2o6 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



July, 



".4:in. Bemovin? Trees and Small Frnita. 

 Young trees of all kinds are easily transferred. 

 Dig tUem up carefully, with roots as little muti- 

 lated as possible. Keep the latter damp until 

 planted out again on their new location. The 

 same applies to Currant and Gooseberry bushes. 

 If a place changes proprietors I would consider 

 every well-established fruit or other tree to be- 

 long to the place, and consequently to the new 

 owner. At an.y rate I would not attempt to 

 remove trees older than are usually bought at 

 the nursery, but would rather plant the new 

 place with new stock. Your present small fruit 

 plantation— Blackberries, Raspberries, Strawber- 

 ries, etc., — will easily furnish you plants for a 

 new patch on the new place. In many cases the 

 young stock is more suitable for your purpose 

 than older plants or trees.— G. R. 



2,445. Mie^nonette in Pots. When allowed to 

 go on its own wa.y Mignonette is strictly an 

 annual, but if seed pods are never allowed 

 to form, the plant will live any numbers 

 of years and continually increase in size 

 if assisted with root room and liquid 

 manure until it may become a gigantic 

 marvel. To have the plant as a perennial 

 round-headed bush, and have it in flower 

 the year round, depends only on a little 

 ordinary skill. From May to August is 

 the best time to sow the seeds, which 

 should be done two or three in a small 

 pot, using a rich, light, loamy compost. 

 Sufficient water must be given, and at 

 the same time excess must be carefull.v 

 avoided. If the soil is allowed to become 

 dust dr.v the foliage assumes a brownish 

 yellow appearance and the shoots become 

 wood.v, which is undesirable. As soon as 

 the young seedlings show flowers pinch 

 out the top of the plant, and a week 

 afterwards shift into Ave inch size. They 

 will again show flower soon, and the 

 pinching must be repeated. Soon they 

 may go into six inch pots. Assuming 

 that the plants are brought into the 

 window or greenhouse, abundance of 

 air must be admitted to them on all favorable 

 occasions, and no more artificial heat than will 

 insure their being safe from frost. At night, if 

 the temperature can be prevented from falling 

 below 3o°, they will be perfectly safe. When 

 admitting air avoid cold cutting winds, for it is 

 better to keep the bouse closed. If severe frost 

 sets in, and is likely to last long, more fire heat 

 may be employed to keep the glass from being 

 frosted and the plants in semi-darkness for two 

 or three weeks. This would prove even more 

 injurious than the use of fire heat early in the 

 morning. Plants sujected to this treatment will 

 commence growing strongly in February, and if 

 judiciously watered will have large dark foliage 

 and large spikes of bloom. Mignonette in pots 

 for decoration is by no means effective when the 

 foliage has been browned by carelessness in 

 watering during the stage of vigorous growth. 

 If they are kept too warm they will continue 

 growing instead of lengthening their flower 

 spikes. 



3.4.57. Wintering Canna Boots. Our subscriber 

 was right in saying that they are easily wintered. 

 The method we employ, and which never fails, 

 is simply to keep Canna roots in dried earth in 

 boxes in the cellar, away from excessive cold, 

 heat and dampness. About the time the frost 

 finally cuts down the growth in the fall, prepara- 

 tion for wintering is made b.v drying some 

 bushels of earth under sash, and then a tew days 

 later the plants are cut awa.v just above the 

 roots and are buried in the dry earth in the boxes. 



2.4.58. Keeping Over Passion Vines. We know 

 of no way to keep the tender Passion Vines over 

 winter, except by the protection of a greenhouse 

 or similar shelter. They might be lifted and 

 carried to a light cellar for safe wintering in ab- 

 sence of the greenhouse. 



scale, gives a good idea of the appearance of 

 the plant and fruit. 



Solanum integrifollum (Poir), says Prof. 

 Bailey, is sold as the Chinese Scarlet and 

 Ornamental Egg plant, and it is probably 

 the one which has been lately distributed as 

 a great novelty under the name of Tomato 

 Egg plant. It goes under the name of Sol- 

 atniin coccincum. Its nativity appears to 

 be wholly unknown. Itis probably African. 

 I have called it the Ethiopian Egg plant. 



It is a coarse plant, three feet high, with 

 large lobed leaves, and the stems, petioles 

 and midribs armed with strong and very 

 sharp spines a half-inch long. The small 

 white flowers are usually borne in clusters 



The bright English Irises are now, .Tune 12, 

 at their best; they are so fine and inexpen- 

 sive that they deserve to be better known. 

 The Spanish Irises come earlier, but are not 

 nearly so handsome. Iris Kasmpferi I find 

 a shy bloomer, giving now its first bud 

 with its third summer's growth. 



The Tomato Egg Plant. 



Two or three year.s ago a novelty was in- 

 troduced under the name, "Tomato Egg 

 Plant." Of course we tested it, and found 

 it curious and interesting enough, but with- 

 out practical value. It has the general habit 

 of growth of the ordinary Egg plants, more 

 compact, if anything, and easy to fruit. 

 Potato bugs seem to be especially fond of it, 

 for they will devour not only the foliage, 

 but the stalks and fruits as well. Of the 

 latter they leave nothing btit the seeds, of 

 which the fruit is almost entirely filled. 



In a recent bulletin of the Cornell Univer- 

 sity E.xperiment station, Prof. Bailey de- 

 scribes and pictures the various species and 

 varieties of Egg plant as tested at the station 

 grounds. The illustration of the Tomato 

 Egg plant, here reproduced on a smaller 



THE TOMATO EGG PLANT. 



of two to six. The fruit is small, rarely 

 much exceeding two inches in diameter, 

 bright scarlet or yellow, and conspicuously 

 lobed, after the manner of the old Early 

 Red Tomato. 



We have grown two types of this plant, 

 one of strong, upright growth, with purple 

 stems, petioles and midribs, the other of 

 spreading habit and lighter color. The 

 species is only curious and ornamental, the 

 fruits not being eaten. 



Rose and Other Plants In Nebraska. 



A. D. T., SHAWNEE CO., NEB. 



Not in fifteen years has there been so much 

 rain during our Rose season as this year. 

 As a consequence some sorts have not 

 opened well; but among such. Jacqueminot, 

 Magna Charta, .John Hopper, Baron de Bon- 

 stetten and a few others were not included; 

 they opened well notwithstanding the clouds 

 and rain. Many other varieties lost half 

 their buds, while Dinsmore, Mad. Chas. 

 Wood and Francis Level gave not one per- 

 fect fiower. This is a severe climate for 

 some plants, but is usually favorable for 

 Roses that are sheltered from wind. It 

 shows that one must not judge results by 

 one season's experience. 



I have Eugenie Verdier in full bloom; a 

 most lovely Rose with the tints and fra- 

 grance of a Tea Rose, but catalogued usually 

 as a Hybrid Perpetual. With me it is a 

 continuous bloomer, and has endured two 

 winters with a slight protection of leaves. 

 I would be glad to know if it is a true Hy- 

 brid Perpetual. It should be in every col- 

 lection of Roses. 



From the spring flowering bulbs to the 

 advent of Roses there is a scarcity of flowers. 

 I know of nothing more satisfactory for a 

 supply at this time than German Iris. They 

 are so hardy and easily grown, so free from 

 insect enemies, and now may be had in fine 

 variety and at prices so low that they de- 

 serve to be planted freely. If the Lemon 

 lA\y,Hcm€roc(tJUKjl<tvii, hasa warm corner, 

 it will add its sweet golden blossoms at the 

 same time. 



A Few Fine Old Friends. 



E. P. POWELL, OSEn)A CO., N. T. 



I used to see a good deal made of the Sal- 

 vias. Now little is said about them. A 

 friend of mine, twenty-flve years ago, had 

 two things that I envied her — a very fine 

 Giant of Battles Rose and a superbly-grown 

 Salvia splenden.s. This latter was a mass 

 of scarlet in autumn, and was removed 

 to the house for winter bloom. She 

 always started new plants from cut^ 

 tings each year, and while some were 

 bedded for garden decoration, others 

 were potted for winter house flowering. 

 In my own collection, I for a long 

 while had Gordonii and Patens; the 

 last a most delicious azure-blue, Angus- 

 tifolia is also a fine blue. Several new 

 sorts run through the shades of crim- 

 son, blue, scarlet, and white. I am 

 however, still fond of the old favorites, 

 and in blues know nothing finer than 

 Patens. In September get them ready 

 for the house that you desire for that 

 purpose, for they are sensitive to frost. 

 The Hoya or Wax plant is a great 

 favorite with me, although I have not 

 now as fine specimens as I like to 

 boast of, it is still a delight of my 

 window. It should be seldom disturbed 

 or shifted, and the pot should stand 

 high up in the window or the conser- 

 vatory. Once established, let it mostly 

 alone, except to supply water. I have had 

 a single vine with one hundred and fifty 

 flower trusses open at once, and a glorious 

 sight, and more glorious smell. The house 

 was filled with odor. The leaves are thick 

 and leathery, and a rich deep green. They 

 should be frequently washed. The soil 

 should be peat and sand; give it manure 

 water occasionally. The fiowers come out 

 year after year from the same stem, so you 

 must not cut off flower stems; you can start 

 new plants from leaf stems, or cuttings of 

 the ordinary sort. 



Why do you not raise Bouvardias? I 

 have never had more satisfactory plants 

 than these. There is a purity about them 

 that specially pleases. They bloom very 

 freely and all winter. They like a warm 

 place, but are not specially tender; they 

 should be in blossom from August to April 

 just the months most needing them; you 

 can propagate them easily from bits of roots. 

 Cut bark occasionally to shape them, the 

 plants become neat and compact; they are 

 among the very best of bedding plants, also, 

 if desired for lawn use; pot in leaf-mould 

 and sand. There are many new sorts, es- 

 pecially the fine doubles, but I still like 

 best the old Hogarthii and Vreelandii, one 

 a delicate scarlet, the other pure white. 



It is about time to recall into popular 

 favor the Pelargonium. Of late years the 

 Zonale Geraniums have crowded this out of 

 favor; but while the latter are a wonderfully 

 popular flower, the former are unequaled 

 for glorious bloom and delicate shades; the 

 lines are from white to scarlet in every 

 shade, and blotched and feathered petals 

 combine every color in grand freedom. 

 With a rich soil they are easily grown; they 

 are easily propagated, nearly as easily as the 

 Zonales. Old plants should frequently be 

 replaced by new ones; it does not pay to 

 raise an old stick. Take cuttings in spring; 

 strike them in an old frame or under a win- 

 dow sash. Do not water much. The young 

 plants grow rapidly, and are ready for 

 flowering in the fall. The Pelargonium is 



