I89I. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



139 



Flower Beds should be kept attractive from now on 

 all during the season. The beglnlng Is made with 

 Hyacinths, Crocus, Tulips, etc. When the flowers are 

 fading, the beds may be cleared by taking the bulbs 

 up with some soil adhering to the roots, and putting 

 them In boxes until ripened. CJIve water moderately, 

 and when ripe store away. The beds should be dressed 

 lightly with manure, and got ready tor other plants. 



General Directions. Plants In cold frame to be set 

 In open ground, should first be thoroughly hardened 

 oft by free airing and e-xposure. Hardy Perennial 

 plants should have the soil dug up deeply around them, 

 to be followed by a liberal dressing of well-rotted 

 manure. 



Grladiolus. The first may be planted out early this 

 month; later plantings to be made at Intervals often 

 days or two weeks up to middle of June. 



Hedges to be pruned as needed this month. 



Iris. The English. Spanish and Persian Irises, must 

 be taken up or replanted every second or third year, 

 as tlie new bulbs, formed every year, are always di- 

 rectly under the old bulb, and in a few years the bulbs 

 descend so deep as to be out of reach of air and hence 

 become incapable of vigorous vegetation. Iris 

 Kcuvipferi. or Japan Iris, Is easily grown from seed. 

 bloom not appearing, however, until the second or 

 third year. The roots must be frequently divided If 

 fine flowers are wanted. 



Lawn. The coarse parts of manure, If any such had 

 been applied In the fall, should be removed, and the 

 lawn raked over and rolled . Mow as soon as a little 

 growth of grass has been made, but not too closely, and 

 repeat every two weeks or of tener during the season. 

 New lawns maybe started. Early sown seed usually 

 does best. Sodding to be done as soon as the ground 

 has become settled. 



Planting. Always have the soil fine and well en- 

 riched. Never expose roots to air and wind- Set trees 

 and shrubs no deeper they were In the nursery. Cut 

 tops well back to correspond with the root mutilation. 

 Pack the soil ttrmly about the fine roots. 



Tuberoses If wanted for out doors in locations north 

 of New York City, should be started In hot-beds or In 

 the windows. 



PLANT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



Airing See under House Plants. 



AUernantheras. For bedding stock All the pots con- 

 taining the old plants with sand on top of the soil, so 

 that about one inch of their lower parts are covered. 

 Place near the glass in high heal, and give plenty of 

 water. When roots have formed on the covered part 

 of the stems, divide and pot off singly In light rich 

 soil, and place in a warm hot ho^bed. High heat and 

 moist atmosphere are essential. 



Annuals that were started before to be given the 

 needed room. Thin and transplant as the case may 

 require. Seeds of Astor, Balsam, Browallla, Celolsia, 

 Hellchrysum, RIcinus, Phlox Drummondi, Portulaca, 

 Stocks, etc., may be sown in hot-bed. 



Carnations. A top dressing of fertilizer may be 

 given to bring out the late bloom. 



Ferns In pots will be benefited by shifting, or re 

 newal of the soil. 



Frames may be used with good effect for the avoid 

 ance of crowdinK in the greenhouse. 



General Management. Be prompt In airing and 

 watering, fiuard against insect.s by the free use of 

 Tobacco (burning or boiling It) and of the sprinkler. 

 Secure plenty of loamy turf, manure, refuse Hops, etc., 

 for potting soil. Shitt plants as they need it, always 

 using new or well-washed old pots. 



Orchids. Generous sprinkling of the side walks, 

 etc.. will tend to preserve the needed moisture. Shade 

 from direct sun rays. 



Pot-bound plants such as Petunias, Fuchsias, Hy 

 drangcas. Calceolarias, etc., can be watered entirely 

 with weak liquid manure while in bloom, with very 

 good effect. 



Primulas. The double ones may be propagated up 

 to middle of month. While the young plants are 

 rooting, provide heavy shade, giving air freely, but 

 water sparingly. 



Propagation. Cuttings may still be made of Verbe- 

 nas, Petunias, Achyranthes, Coleus, Salvias, Heliotro- 

 pes, Fuchsias, German Ivy, etc., for summer decora- 

 lion, and of Chrysanthemums, Eupatorlums, Stevlas, 

 Roses, Carnations, Violets, LIbornIa, Jasmlnus, Abu- 

 tllons, etc., for winter flowering. Examine cuttings 

 in the bed, and pot off at first appearance of roots. 



Roses. Keep the young plants in a healthy growmg 

 condition, free from weeds, well watered, and free from 

 green fly by fumigation. Old plants to have a top 

 dressing of compost, for a late crop of bloom. 



Shading. Glass over fancy Coleus. Caladlums, Fu- 

 chsias, Camellias, Azalias, Callas, etc., to be shaded by 

 palming with whitewash or naptha and white lead. 



structlon of nests and rings of eggs on the branches, 

 as well as cocoons and insects In the crevices of the 

 rough bark removed will prevent much damage by 

 these pests later on. 



Currants. Trim out superfluous old wood. Apply 

 manure. 



Grafting. Healthy trees now bearing poor varieties 

 should not be allowed to do so much longer. By Insert- 

 ing a few grafts lu proper places, and thus gradually 

 changing Into a good variety, they can soon be made 

 most valuable trees, and profltable property. Graft 

 them with varlties known to do well In your locality, 

 and called for in your markets. Don't depend on 

 travelling tree-grafters. Anybody with common In- 

 telligence can soon learn how to graft Apples and 

 Pears, etc., succesfully. Grafts, cut from a healthy 

 tree of the desired variety of these fruits when wanted 

 and properly Inserted, seldom fall to grow. 



Grapes. Carefully gather up and remove all prun- 

 lugs, old decayed leaves and other rubbish from the 

 vineyard, and burn. Wash the vines with a saturated 

 solution of green copperas (sulphate of iron) latter 

 part of the month. Provide sprayer, and spraying 

 materials, to be able to flght the rot promptly. 



Manures. Potash fertilizers are of especial beneflt 

 to fruit crops. Few things are superior to unleached 

 ashes as a fertilizer for orchards and small fruit 

 patches. 



Quinces need rich mellow soil. A liberal top dress- 

 ing of compost will help older trees. Thin out the 

 smaller branches. 



Raspberries and Blackberries. New plantations 

 may be made as soon as the ground is in proper order 

 for setting plants. Raspberries will do well on ordin- 

 ary good Corn soil ; Blackberries are easily satlsfled, 

 and soli need not be very rich. Ashes make good 

 manure for both crops. Remove old canes, if this Is 

 not yet done. 



Spraying has now become a necessity for almost all 

 tree fruits, both for Insects and disease. The fruit 

 grower who does his duty— by studying up this matter, 

 providing himself with spraying apparatus and ma- 

 terial, and applying these remedies properly, will 

 make frnit growing pay much better than for many 

 years past. He can thus secure his crops against 

 enemies which will destroy those of the careless and 

 Indolent majority. Good fruit promises to be in short 

 supply for years to come, and prices to be good. 



Seedlings. Seed of all fruit trees to be sown as soon 

 as the ground can be worked. 



Strawberries. Plant new beds as early as possible. 

 Old beds to be uncovered by removing mulch. To- 

 ward last of month, or In May, put fresh mulch around 

 the bearing plants to keep fruit clean. 



FRUIT GARDEN AND ORCHARD 



Apples. Pruning where needed to be done at once. 

 Remember that sunlight Is absolutely necessary to the 

 health and growth of the tree and the production of 

 good fruit, but also that stove wood cut from healthy 

 trees Is the dearest ever paid for. Remove Moss that 

 may have accumulated on the tree bodies. The de- 



VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



Beets. Early Egyptian, Early Eclipse, or any other 

 of the lirst earlles to be sown In open ground as soon 

 as the latter is In working order. 



Cabbage. Oold-tramewintercd plants to be set In 

 open ground as early as possible. Be sure to have the 

 plants well hardened off previously. For a succession 

 sow early and medium sorts— Jersey Wakefield, Early 

 Summer, etc.— In open ground, a half dozen seeds to 

 the hill, and thin to one good plant. 



Cauliflower. Treat same as advised for Cabbage. 



Carrots. Sow ail kinds as .soon as ground is ready. 



Celery. Good plants may l>e grown in a warm border, 

 which should be made very rich, and be comparatively 

 free from weeds. Make rows about one foot apart. 

 Sow seed thinly and cover lightly, firming well. 



Cress may be sown as early as ground will admit, 

 alst> every two weeks for succession. Flea beetles are 

 especially fond of this. 



Cucumbers. For earliest seed may be started on 

 inverted sods, or lu pots in greenhouse or hot-bed, to 

 be set In open ground in May. 



General Directions. Begin cultivation just as soon 

 as the young plants appear and show the location of 

 the row. Use the hand wheel hoe freely. The ho^beds 

 need close watching, prompt airing and watering. 

 Where mice trouble, they can be caught with the 

 "delusion" trap. 



Lettuce to be sown in open ground as early as possi- 

 ble. 



Onions. For a trial of the " New Onion Culture " 

 seed may yet be sown In frames under glass, provided 

 the ground Is not ready for open air sowing. When 

 first sowings are large enough, and groimd ready, 

 transplant In rows one foot apart, having plants from 

 two to three Inches apart In the rows, according to 

 variety. For pickling and sets sow thickly In open 

 ground as soon as practicable. 



Parsley to be sown early In well prepared ground. 



Parsnips. Sow early, using fresh seed only. 



Peas For first early plant the smooth varieties 

 which are handler than the wrinkled sorts. The latter 

 may be put out a week or two later. Ashes and bone 

 dust, or any good complete concentrated manure, 

 usually gives good results with this crop. 



Potatoes. For earliest plant such sorts as Early 

 Ohio. Polaris, Burpee's First Early, Early Sunrise, etc., 

 using as large seed pieces as you can afford. 



Radishes Sow any of the early Turnip rooted sorts 

 as soon as ground Is ready, and for succession every 

 two weeks. 



Spinach to be sown for succession. 

 Turnips. For first early sow any of the early flat 

 sorts. 



FRUITS AND VEGETABLES UNDER 

 GLASS. 



Cucumbers. Stimulate old plants by liberal appli- 

 cations of manure and water. Young plants do not 

 require liquid manure until they come In bearing. 



Figs to do their best, need heat, moisture, air and 

 light. Thin the fruit where too thick. Cuttmgs may 

 be struck In sandy well-drained soil with plenty of 

 bottom heat. 



Grapes. In latest houses stop growth of vines. 

 SjTlnge twice dally, and air freely. Look out for red 

 spider. Thin bunches where needed. 



Lettuce may be grown In hot-bed from plants win- 

 tered in cold frame. Set six to eight Inches apart each 

 way. Tennis Ball, Boston Market and Grand Rapids 

 are the best forcing varieties. 



Pine Apples when fruiting need free airing, and like 

 occasional applications of warm weak manure water. 



Strawberries. Give vines in fruit plenty of water, 

 and in the earlier stages perhaps some liquid manure. 

 Ventilate freely. Overloaded plants may be relieved 

 of part of their berries. 



THE POULTRY YARD. 



Ducks Grow Fast. One advantage with ducks 

 istbat they grow almost twice as fast as chickens. 



Watch the Chicks. When they seem to be con- 

 tinually crying-, it means more warmth needed. 

 The warmth is more important than the food. If 

 the chicks are stupid, drowsy, continually cry, 

 or have Bts, look on the heads and necks and 

 under the wings for the large lice. Also examine 

 for the little red mites. 



Cure for Feather Eating. Kemove the first 

 hen caught in the act, as she will teach the vice 

 to others. If the whole Hock is engaged in ]iick- 

 ing each other, sell them and begin anew with 

 other birds, as it will reiiuire a long time to cure 

 them, the remedy being complete separation of 

 the flock.— Poultry Keeper. 



Bones for Poultry. Poultry can digest bones 

 as readily as a dog, and they will return more 

 profit. There are always bones from the kitchen, 

 and instead of these being carelessly thrown 

 away and wasted they should be saved under 

 shelter, where they can become well dried out. 

 Then crush on a large Hat stone with a heavy 

 hammer, or else run through a small hand mill. 

 —Poultry Bulletin. 



Grinding or Founding Bones, Fiist heat them 

 in the stove oven when they can then be more 

 easily broken up. If you have a small handmill, 

 but little difficulty will be experienced, but 

 bones must also be coarsely broken for the mill. 

 Fresh bones from the butchers cannot easily be 

 ground. They are usually beateu with the butt 

 of a hammer and broken into splinters. The 

 hens will eat every piece, preferring them even 

 to meat or any other food that can be given.— 

 Mirror and Farmer. 



Keep Awake, A young man told me recently 

 that rats got in his brooding house one night 

 and killed about forty promising chicks. 

 Yet this young man used every precaution 

 to iirevent the intrusion of rats. On the floor 

 of the house he had wire netting, and every 

 hole tlirough which a rat could crawl was kept 

 shut. But that night he forgot to close a little 

 gate in front of tile house, which let the chicks 

 out into a yard, avd Mr Rat, on a watch for 

 opportunities, took occasion to step in. One 

 cannot be too careful. See that everything is 

 secure before you close up the house at night.— 

 Germantown Tel. 



Profitable Ducks. An exchange tells of a man 

 who 'oought ten ducks for glOO.OO; in one year 

 his flock increased to 94. From this flock he re- 

 ceived 1213 eggs, or I.5I eggs per duck. Sold 737 

 eggs, for which h6 received g~'H.4'.i. The stock on 

 hand now numbers 30 breeders, .«30; tJi) ducklings, 

 $3-t..50; making a total of $6-1.50. Cash from sale 

 eggs, $38.4!) ; for sale of ducklings, $12; total re- 

 ceipts, $104.!!!); deducting costs it leaves a gain of 

 $tl4.U. Surely this was a good showing in a 

 small way. An enclosure of 7.5 feet square with 

 a pond of spring water was were they where 

 kept. Two-thirds wheat bran, one-third yellow 

 meal, one tenth oyster shells was fed three times 

 a day with sour milk. 



Why Poultry Euns Out. Crosses with any 

 standard breed of fowl produce good results. 

 But these grade fowls, though olten valuable 

 for egg producing, are utterl.y unreliable for 

 breeding. Their progeny are not grades but 

 mongrels. Changing the males in a Hock is often 

 advised; but if the new stock are mongrels there 

 will be little advantage from this. The farm 

 poultry of this country are largely mongrels, 

 and this is why so many fail with poultry. Forty 

 or fifty years ago the common dunghill fowl in 

 this country, though originally intermixed, had 

 become almost an established bi'eed. Few, if any, 

 of these old-fashioned fowls are now left any- 

 where. As a consciiuence the introduction of 

 new blood in every flock not absolutely pure- 

 bred is a necessity every two or three years, and 

 in every case males of pure blood, and so far as 

 possible of the predominant strain of the flock, 

 should be introduced for crossing.— American 

 ('ultivator. 



