146 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



May, 



Notes from the Popular Gardening 



Grounds at La Salle-on-the- 



Niagara. 



The Pink Japan Anemone. Tbe fine white 

 Japan Anemone is now known by almost every 

 grower of hardy flowers. Its very popularity 

 has no doubt tended to obscure the merits of the 

 parent form which is illustrated herewith. Than 

 this species we have no finer hardy plant at 

 "Woodbanks." While the white, which is a 

 sport of the kind under consideration, is most 

 lovely, yet it is not more satisfactory than the 

 other. Both should he in every collection, and 

 where supplies of autumn flowers 

 are wanted for cutting, these 

 should be counted among the best 

 of plants for the purpose. For 

 planting either in groups, borders, 

 as a fringe to the shrubbery, or in 

 the wild garden these fall Ane- 

 mones are unequaled. 



The Pink species grows about 

 two feet high, being scarcely as 

 tall as the White. The flowers are 

 large, handsome and quite double, 

 as shown by our engraving made 

 from life. The foliage is dark 

 green and of pretty outline. The 

 plant, like that of the white, 

 thrives as well in partial shade as 

 in full sun. It is well to grow 

 some of them in a cool north 

 border and others in a southern 

 exposure, in order to extend the 

 period of bloom. As to propaga- 

 tion, every bit of the root grows 

 when divided. 



Evergreens in the Spring. 

 We are apt to speak of that qual- 

 ity of evergreens marked by the 

 retention of their verdure during 

 winter as the chief merit of the 

 class. This may be true, and yet 

 without doubt, not sutficient stress 

 is laid upon the beauty of these 

 trees the year round. At best, 

 the color of evergreen trees in 

 winter is rather dull as compared 

 with the same from the sap start- 

 ing time in the spring until cold 

 weather in the autumn. That 

 some kinds like the American 

 Arbor Vitiv are decidedly somber 

 in hue in winter is well known, 

 but that all species are only less 

 so in degree, may not generally 

 have been noticed. 



We are lead to these remarks by 

 the handsome color that our many 

 species of evergreens generally 

 have taken on during the few 

 weeks of warm weather preceding 

 the date of this writing. It is the 

 most fascinating sign of spring- 

 time on our grounds to-day. The 

 Snowdrops, Crocuses, Hepaticas, ^^^ PWK. 

 Mezeron Pink, Red Maple and other early 

 flowers have appeared to enliven our plant- 

 ations here and there at intervals along the 

 borders and forest fringe, but the evergreens 

 from end to end of the groups have all taken on 

 their vivid spring hues, with only the grass to 

 keep company. The fact that our assortment of 

 these runs into scores, and that each species and 

 variety has its own peculiar tint, thus affording 

 variety of color as well as of habit, renders tbe 

 effect all the handsomer. This is not all. From 

 now until the young growth a month later ap- 

 pears, this spring attractiveness will continue to 

 increase, for of all seasons, that of the growing 

 time of evergreens is the date of their highest 

 attractiveness. 



A Rampant Grower. Among the plants in- 

 troduced into these grounds a year ago, was 

 Geum coccineum, and as happens, it came as 

 one plant of an importation from Thomas Ware's 

 nurser.v, England. This plant was carefully set 

 out in a border with the balance of the importa- 

 tion. While a few of the lot did not survive the 

 journey, and others only succeeded in getting a 

 fair hold the first season, our little (ieum coc- 

 cineum not only readily established itself, but 

 grew and spread very freely. We have no doubt 

 that to-day .'iOO plants could be dug up around 

 the plant set out a year ago. The conclusion is 

 unavoidable that here is a plant that is out of 

 place in the cultivated border— it must go to 

 some spot of poor soil in the wild garden, where 

 its propensity to spread will be checked, and 



where, we doubt not, it will prove to be a desira- 

 ble addition to our collection. 



Soil Conditions. The real extent of the draw- 

 backs and diflSculties which confronted us in all 

 oui' gardening operations last season, impresses 

 itself on our mind more strongly than it did even 

 at the time we were annoyed by them, now that 

 we see the soil work up in such exceedingly fine 

 shape. Thecontrast is indeed wonderful. What 

 last season was at one time a bed of mortar, and 

 at another a lot of hard-baked lumps and clods 

 that could not be fined by any amount of work 

 with a great variety of the most improved mod- 

 em pulverizers and harrows, now is made into 



proper jJacein the drill, and slighly cover it with 

 the foot, finally stepping upon the hill. The 

 only thing needful is to guard against the little 

 flea beetle. Tobacco dust, or a strong extract 

 used as a spray, may be used as a means of de- 

 fense. When the plants are large enough, pull 

 all plants except the best in each hill. 



We are always sure of having plenty of Cauli- 

 flowers, and plenty of Cabbages also, since we 

 adopted this plan, and it saves us the trouble 

 and fussing made necessary by the method of 

 growingplants in frames and transplanting them. 

 By the way, we also follow a similar method in 

 growing our stock of Lettuce. 



The fruit outlook on our 

 young trees at this writing is most 

 glorious. Cherries and Peaches 

 appear full of buds, and barring 

 the "slip twixt cup and lip," 

 promise to give us fruit in abund- 

 ance. The Peen-to Peach alone 

 succumbed to the cold of a north- 

 ern winter, showing that it is un- 

 suited to our climate. Apple, 

 Pear and Plum trees appear to be 

 in good condition. The Grapes 

 are all right. Sprayers, including 

 the knapsack, and the ingredients 

 for making the mixtures are on 

 hand, and will soon be used. What 

 we have to fear more than any- 

 thing else is the Apple scab, and 

 this we hope to subdue by means 

 of the Bordeaux mixture. 



We have some Grape vines .that 

 last year were badly affected by 

 the black rot. Here tbe virtues of 

 the knapsack sprayer are now 

 being tried. It is the first applica- 

 tion we are making this season. 

 The liquid used is a saturated 

 solution of green copperas (sul- 

 phate of iron or iron vitrol\ and 

 is thoroughly sprayed on the yet 

 leafless canes 



Frost and hail, it now seems, are 

 the only things we have to fear 

 that can prevent us from having 

 plenty of fruit this year. And 

 equally favorable reports come 

 from the surrounding country. 



JAPAN ANEMONE. Drawn on the Poptilar Ganicniii 

 a perfect seed bed, fine and loose as an ash heap, 

 without effort, and with any ordinary tool that 

 we may choose to use. on the whole we had 

 pretty fair success last season, relished all the 

 more on account of the slight disappointments 

 that were mixed iu, yet gardening was work, 

 and sometimes drudgery, ,iust on account of the 

 unfavorable soil conditions; while this year thus 

 far, it is merely enjoyment and pleasure. We 

 are quite hopeful of a grand outcome. 



Cabbages and Cauliflowers. The new way 

 of growing Cabbages, and especially Cauliflowers, 

 by sowing directly into the open ground where 

 the plants are intended to remain and mature, 

 seems to us so important that we must again 

 call our readers attention to it. We again follow 

 our favorite practice that has given us such fine 

 results for a number of years, and this is as fol- 

 lows: Rows are marked out with the garden 

 marker in the usual way, and at the usual dis- 

 tance apart, namely, 1.5 inches. Cabbage or 

 Cauliflower seed is sown thinly in every other 

 row, like Turnips or Onion seed, while the rows 

 between are used for Radishes. 



Of course Cabbage seed, and still more, Cauli- 

 flower seed is somewhat expensive, and in order 

 to be saving with the seed, it would be better in 

 most cases to plant a little pinch of seeds (four 

 or five) in hills from 18 to 24 inches apart in the 

 drills. The sowing in this way is easily and 

 quickly done. Hold the paper or a small dish 

 containing the seed in one hand, and with the 

 other take up a pinch of seed, drop it in its 



Taste and Tact in Arrang- 

 ing Home and Other 

 Grounds.* 



SEVENTH P.\PEI!. 



A subscriber in New York 

 state has sent usasketch of his 

 grounds, comprising about two 

 acres, outlined as shown in the 

 engraving, and requests us to 

 suggest improvements. The 

 plat lays somewhat elevated, 

 overlooking quite an extens- 

 g Grountls. ive lake, the shore of which 

 is about one-half mile away. A chief ob.iect 

 we have in .suggesting the improvements 

 shown on the plan, besides making a 

 handsome and complete garden, is the 

 securing of a number of views of the 

 magnificent water and other scenery, which 

 are present from the dwelling and other 

 parts of the grounds. The vistas thus pro- 

 vided are shown by dotted lines, and will 

 be commented upon more fully later. 



The place is a new one, begun as a home 

 only a year ago. The dwelling, stable and 

 poultry house had been erected previous to 

 his writing for assistance. The other ob- 

 jects on the grounds are a fair-sized Oak tree 

 shown by 2is, and most of the trees along the 

 rill at the (rear) upper end. A wagon track 

 extended nearly on a atraight line from a 

 point between the Oak tree and the house 

 to the highway. A straight path also leads 

 back to the rill, passing close to the stable. 



•CopyrlEht. 1^90. PoruuAR Gardenino PubllshInK Co - 

 Note : It is designed to render the present s>erial widely 

 useful through imparting ideas on tastefully arrang- 

 ing grounds of every kind, basing the same on actual 

 examples. To this end sketches of home plats, rural 

 cemeteries, town squares, .school yards, etc., are cor- 

 dially Invited from readers, with a view to our sub- 

 mitting suggestions for Improving the same. In 

 future articles. Should more plans be received than 

 are needed for this purpose, such will be chosen, as In 

 our Judgment, will afford the best subjects for con- 

 veying Information to the largest number of readers. 



