I89I. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



119 



the ground. In order to Insure a nice smooth surface, 

 If bare spots appear, reseed, using seed very liberally. 

 New lawns can bp made w hen frost Is out of the ground. 

 Seed cannot be sown too early. Sodding may also be 

 done. In taking up the sods they should be cut Into 

 squares about one foot each way. or into lengths of 

 five or six feet and one foot wide, which can be rolled 

 up forconvenlently handling them, cutting them about 

 an Inch and a half thick. Lay them closely and com- 

 pactly together, beating them smoothly with the back 

 of the spade so that there will be no crevice between the 

 cut portions or beneath them. Re-paint the stakes and 

 labels as needed. Getting the walks In order by raking 

 and rolling them, etc., can be made one of the first 

 jobs in spring. 



Hydraneea paniculata to be given a rather severe 

 heading back, and a good top-dressing of rich, flue 

 manure. This will bring out its full blooming powers. 



Orders for o'-namental trees and shrubs should be 

 placed with j-our dealer at once. If not already done. 



Roses. Uncover the hardy hybrids and Mosses. If 

 weather be favorable, then apply a good dressing of 

 well-rotted manure, and work Into the soil near the 

 roots. Tenderer Roses may have at least a portion ot 

 the winter covering removed. 



Shrubs to be cleared of dead wood, and supplied with 

 supports where needed. Old specimens that have not 

 seemed to do well, may be rejuvenated by the removal 

 of a portion of the old soil, replacing it with fresh, rich 

 earth, or by giving a good top dressing of fine rich 

 manure. 



Sweet Pea. Sow as early as the condition of the 

 ground will permit. 



PLANT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



Achiraenes for succession to be started each month 

 until May. As they show new growth, place in the 

 pots In which they are to bloom. Heat, moisture and 

 shade are necessary for best results. 



Alternanthera for propagation should be managed 

 as follows: Fill the pots with sand on top of the soil. 

 covering the lower parts of the plants, then place near 

 the glass in high heat. When roots have formed on 

 the stems, these may be divided, potting off separately 

 in llBht, rich soil, and placing In a warm, close, damp 

 hot-bed. 



Azaleas in bloom to be watered thoroughly, syringed 

 daily and aired regularly. Avoid strong draughts. 

 Much fire heat Is not needed now. Shade lightly 

 overhead from direct sun rays. 



Oamellias, Use warm soap-suds and a brush for the 

 scale. From the time the plants start into growth until 

 autumn they require to be shaded from the sun. Give 

 water more freely, syringe frequently, prune if de- 

 sirable. 



Oalceolarias and Cinerarias to be treated toUquid 

 manure occasionally. 



General Directions. Pay close attention to proper 

 airing. Too little fresh air with free growth will cause 

 plants to become weak and more liable to disease and 

 injury from Insects. Provide plauts with all the room 

 Deeded for developing good forms now that they are 

 growing fast. Give the entire stock a thorough over- 

 hauling, and throw out any surplus of inferior material. 

 Water regularly and often, as much of it is required 

 during this season of free growth. Treat each plant 

 according to its kind. 



Colens and other bedding Plants for main stock 

 win be of the most suitable size for bedding out if 

 propagated about this time. 



Gloxinias to be treated as advised for Achlmenes. 



Hydrangea. When the flowers begin to color, grad- 

 ually give more air during the day and reduce the 

 temperature at night. This will give a bright color to 

 the flowers, and hardy plants. The Hydrangea when 

 In growth requires plenty of water and occasional 

 doses of liquid manure. 



Lilies to be started In pots. Plants about to bloom to 

 be given occassional doses of liquid manure. 



Felareoniums to be aired freely. Stimulate with 

 occasional applications of manure water. 



Primroses. The double ones to be propagated from 

 slips. 



Propagation from cuttings should still go on for 

 spring plants, also for Chrysanthemums, Stevlas, Roses, 

 Carnations, Violets, Libonia, Fuchsias, Abutilons, etc., 

 for winter flowering. Give the cuttings close attention 

 and pot off when slightly rooted. 



Shading the glass over hard-wooded plants, Double 

 Primroses, Ferns, etc., is a necebsary precaution tow- 

 ard the last of the month. Ordinary whitewash will do. 



FRUIT GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 



Blackberries. Uncover and straighten the plants 

 laid down for v\ Inter. Set new plantations as early as 

 possible, having rows six or eight feet apart. There Is 

 an Inc.easlng demand for the fruit. 



Ohe»r'es, especially of the sour class— the Montmor- 

 ency, etc.— are araouK the surest and best paying of 

 fruits. The demand will exceed the supply for many 

 years to ccme. 



Onrrants are also a sure and profitable crop. Set 

 plants four feet apart each way. 



Onttlngs of Grapes, Currants, Gooseberries, etc., 

 that were made and planted In the fall, should be un- 

 covered and cultivated as soon as the ground is in 



condition to be worked. Cuttings wintered In the 

 cellar may be planted out. 



Gooseberries. Plant as early as possible, five feet 

 apart each way. 



Girdled trees may be saved by covering the wound 

 with a pat^te of clay and cow manure, or by inserting 

 a number of dons around the wound, with one end 

 under the bark below and the other under the bark 

 above the cut. 



Grafting Is now In order. Trees of poor varieties 

 should be improved In this way. We have usually had 

 good success from clons taken ofl: from a tree of the 

 desired variety, and immediately grafted into the 

 stock even after buds had started somewhat. 



Manure. Orchards cannot do their best without 

 liberal feeding. Apply bai-nyard manure, ashes, bone 

 dust, etc., broadcast, and mix Into the soli by means of 

 a disc or cutaway harrow. Ashes with bone meal or 

 acid phosphates, are good fertilizers for, vines. 



Orchards. Prepare to plant Bean9 or some other 

 hoed crop among the young trees. This will ensure 

 good manuring and clean cultivation. Peas or Buck- 

 wheat may be grown in old orchards, the crop to be 

 plowed under or " hogged " down. 



Peaches. Plant the varieties that are hardy In bud, 

 such as Beatrice. Elvers, Hill's Chill, Hyne's Surprise, 

 etc.. on well drained soil. Give clean cultivation and 

 plenty of patash fertilizers, and you will get Peaches. 



Pruning to be done in orchard and vineyard. 



Raspberries. Take good care of the crop and apply 

 fertilizer freely. The fruit will bring a good price this 

 year. See also directions for Blackberries. 



Spraying. The sprayer and spraying liquids are now 

 necessary requisites in every orchard and fruit garden. 

 There Is every prospect now that good prices will rule 

 Id the fruit market for years to come. The only ques- 

 tion for us Is how to produce the fruit. It can be done 

 by the free use of the spray mixtures. There are 

 now plenty of good sprayers in the market, large and 

 small. The solution of copper carbonate in liquid 

 ammonia is probably the cheapest and most convenient 

 of any of these mixtures. Such a solution, ready for 

 reduction with water. Is now put on the market under 

 the name of " copperdlne." 



Strawberries. For new beds make the soil rich and 

 plow deep, then set as early as the weather will per- 

 mit. Do not remove the mulch from old beds too soon. 

 It plants are heaving out. firm them by rolling, or by 

 setting the foot firmly upon each plant. 



VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



Asparagus. As soon as ground Is in working order, 

 seeds may be sown for plants, New plantations may 

 also be set out. Make the ground rich and give the 

 plants plenty of room. Get the old beds in shape for 

 bearing. Apply nitrate of soda. 



Beets. Sow Early Egyptian or Eclipse for earliest 

 crop, as soon as the groimd can be got ready. 



Cabbage and Cauliflower. Cold frame-wintered 

 plants to be set out as soon as the ground Is ready. 

 Plants in frames to be be given plenty of air on suita- 

 ble days. 



Celery. For earliest plants sow seed In hot-bed or 

 cold frame. 



Horse Radish. Plant sets for new crop In very rich 

 ground. Dig old roots. 



Hot-beds to be made at once for Peppers, Egg Plant, 

 Tomatoes, etc. The addition of dry forest leaves to the 

 horse manure will tend to temper the heat, and make 

 It more lasting. 



Lettuce. Sow at once for early if ground Is ready, 

 or transplant from frames. 



Onions. Seed cannot be sown too early. If you 

 desire to try the " new onion culture," get some seed 

 of Prlzetaker, Spanish King, White Globe, White Vic- 

 toria, etc.. and start plants In hot-bed or greenhouse, 

 sowing one ounce of seed to the ordinary sash, and 

 afterwards transplant to open ground. Plant sets as 

 soon as you can get them into the ground. 



Parsnips. Dig the crop still in the ground before It 

 starts into growth. Sow seed for new crop. 



Peas. Sow the smooth kinds now for earliest. These 

 are hardy. The wrinkled kinds to be planted late. 



Potatoes. For earliest crop get seed at once, selecting 

 Early Ohio, Ohio Jr., Burpee's Extra Early, etc., cut 

 as desired, and spread thinly In a warm, light room, In 

 order to start strong buds before planting. 



Radishes. Sow seed for the early Turnip-rooted 

 sorts. 



Rhubarb. If wanted very early, place a barrel over 

 each end. and surround and cover with fermenting 

 horse manure. To start a new plantation set plants as 

 early as practicable. 



Salsify. See directions for Parsnips. 



Spinach- Sow seed at once for succession. 



FRUITS AND VEGETABLES UNDER 

 GLASS. 



Asparagus. For a succession place old plants lifted 

 In autumn, thickly In ho^bed. covering with four 

 Inches of earth. 



Cauliflower plants may be set on the benches after 

 the early Lettuce Is taken off, afoot apart each way. 



Cucumbers now require an even temperature of 

 from 60 to 65 degrees at night, and 70 to 75 degrees by 

 day. For late planting sow seed In small pots. 



Grapes. In cold house head In the laterals, and 

 while leaves are expanding, syringe dally until they 

 are completely out. Use water freely In hot house, 

 and give some air. Remove part of the growing 

 bunches if too many. 



Pineapples during the fruiting period must be well 

 supplied with water. Also Increase the bottom heat. 



Radishes are easily grown In hot-bed or greenhouse. 

 Sow thinly In rows about three Inches apart and thin 

 out to one Inch apart In the rows. Use any of the 

 Early Scarlet forcing kinds. 



THE POULTRY YARD. 



Hens like boiled Beans.— Rural New Yorker. 



Place for the Nest. Make the nest in a dark 

 place, and the hahit of eerg-eating will not be 

 easily acquired. If the hens once be^n to eat 

 egsrs, the best treatment is a sharp axe applied 

 to their necks. 



Forcincr Charcoal etc. on Chickens. Never 

 mix charcoal, grit, ground shells or other sub- 

 stances, with the soft food, but place them where 

 the bens can help themselves. They will eat 

 whatever they require, and no advantaf?e is 

 gained by forcing them to eat something they do 

 not wish.— Mirror and Farmer. 



Ffledinu Betting Hens. They should not be 

 fed while on the nest. They need all the exer- 

 cise thev are likely to (?et. Too constant sitting 

 makes them of bad disposition, and difficult to 

 manage when they come off with the brood. 

 Etrgs will stand a wide range of temperature 

 without injury. 



The B^st E^es. Those laid by an active, 

 healthvhen, supplied with good fresh food, are 

 much superior to those laid by hens that are the 

 common scavengers of alleys, back yards and 

 piiT pens. The difference in color, smell and 

 taste, is very evident to one who has given the 

 matter a little attention. 



As the Food, ao the Effps. The quality of eggs 

 depends upon thecharacter of the food supplied. 

 The ben must make the eggs out of what she 

 eats. Too much fish eives a fishy flavor to the 

 eggs, and too many Onions an oniony flavor. 

 Decayed grain and tainted meat in like manner, 

 will make esgs inferior to those produced from 

 wholesome food.— Indiana Farmer. 



Poultry House Site. Select dry land for poul- 

 try, and never build a poultry-house where 

 water will ever stand on the ground floor. 

 Dampness means sickness or no profit. Dry, 

 hilly land is better than low, level land for poul- 

 try," provided they are sufficiently well fed ; but 

 rich land affords more vegetation and more 

 insects to feed upon than poor land.— Farmer's 

 Home Journal 



Sore Heads- Tincture of arnica will cure 

 fowls of sore heads. Separate the sick from the 

 well and apply the tincture with a soft rag every 

 morning for four to six days. A few drops in 

 the drinking water is necessary. Do not permit 

 their eyes to become closed. Sore head is not 

 the direct cause of death with fowls, but when 

 not properly attended the eyes close and the 

 fowls die of starvation.— National Stockman. 



Salt and Sulphur Injurious. One can scarcely 

 pick up an agricultural paper without finding a 

 complaint about poultry dying off. Not unfre- 

 quently it is coupled with an admission that 

 sulphur and salt are frequently mixed in the 

 feed. No better wa.v could be taken to kill off 

 the birds. They nped neither salt nor sulphur. 

 Why should they? Minute quantities of salt may 

 be harmless, but it does no good. Sulphur is 

 sure to raise trouble.— Orange Co. Farmer. 



About Different Breeds. The egg machines 

 are— Leghorns, Minorcas, Houdans, Spanish, 

 Hamburgs, Andalusians and Polands. The table 

 fowls are— Brahmas, Tochins, Wyandottes, Piy- 

 mouth Rocks. Dominiques, Houdans, Games and 

 Langshans. Those that lay dark eggs are—The 

 Wvandottes, Plymouth Rocks. Brahmas, Cochins, 

 and Lanarshans. Those that lay whit^ eggs are 

 —The Houdans, Spanish, Minorca*, Lesrhorns, 

 Games, Polish and Javas.— Germantown Tel, 



Charcoal Beneficial. Weare great believers in 

 feeding charcoal to the hens in soft feed once or 

 twice a week, and believes it contains a sub- 

 stance their organs require constantly. As it 

 acts on the blf^od, it acts really on the life itself 

 of the fowl. When the blood is thick and clotty, 

 a dull, sick chicken will soon follow; thin blood 

 always means vigorous circulation, and on good 

 circulation health largely depends. If your fowls 

 lack activity, they need something that will stir 

 the blood from its sluggish course.— National 

 Stockman and Farmer. 



Poultrv Diseases. The cholera and roup are 

 two chief difficulties with which the beginner 

 has to contend. Geese and ducks are partially 

 exempt excepting lameness during the wet sea- 

 sons Turkeys are suhiect to all the ills that 

 affect chickens, and they are not easily cured 

 when sick. They often become affected with 

 roun in winter. All kinds of poultry should be 

 sheltered during stormy season?, if but an open 

 shed is provided Another difficulty experienced 

 by poultrv in winter, and especially on stormy 

 days, is the exposure to hich winds, which is 

 disagreeable to them. The hens do not like to 

 be closelv confined. If some she tered resort can 

 be provided where they can work and scratch, 

 they will thrive better and keep in laying con- 

 dition.— The Farmer's Home. 



