I89I 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



^39 



disturbing them at the roots at any stage. 

 Very satisfactory results are obtained by 

 growing them in boxes or large pans, and 

 transferring them to the pots or other re- 

 ceptacles in which they are to bloom when 

 coming into flower. 



To ensure the Roman Hyacinth flowering 

 in November, and the other varieties in the 

 month following or early in .January, it is 

 necessary to begin early. The bulbs can 

 not, indeed, be potted too soon after the 

 commencement of Septeraijer, as they must 

 be well furnished with roots before they 

 can be placed in forcing with the 

 full assurance of satisfactory re- 

 sults. For the decoration of the 

 conservatory, the best course to 

 take is to pot the bulbs in five inch 

 pots, three in each. 



Whether grown in pots or boxes, 

 all bulbs should have the advant- 

 age of sufficient drainage to carry 

 ofl! the superfluous moisture 

 quickly, and a light, rich soil. 

 The most suitable mixture that 

 could well be prepared is one 

 consisting of loam three parts, 

 and old hot-bed manure, leaf- 

 mould and silver sand one part 

 each. If there is any difficulty 

 in obtaining leaf -mould the quan- 

 tity of manure should be doubled. 

 It may also be useful to many 

 owners of small gardens to know, 

 that If manure from the bot-bed 

 or stable in a suitable condition 

 for use cannot be readily obtained, 

 a small proportion of some suita- 

 ble artificial manure may be 

 added to the loam with advantage 

 to the plants. The bulbs should 

 be buried to two-thirds of their 

 depth and the soil be pressed 

 moderately about them. 



It is necessary they should be 

 kept in perfect darkness until 

 they are nicely rooted. Therefore 

 prepare in a rather sheltered 

 position out of doors, a bed of 

 coal ashes of sufficient thickness 

 to render it impossible for the 

 worms to pass through it. Upon 

 this stand the pots or boxes, and 

 heap over them sufficient loose 

 material to form a layer six or 

 seven inches In thickness. Leaf- 

 mould or ashes will answer very 

 well. They must remain in the 

 plunge bed until the roots begin 

 to run freely round the sides of 

 the pots, and be then taken to a 

 pit or the cellar, from which the 

 frost is excluded, where they can 

 remain until they are taken in to 

 their blooming quarters. It Is 

 important not to leave them in 

 the bed and covered, until they 

 have made much growth, for If 

 they are at all drawn at this stage, 

 the leaves win fall over later on, 

 and present an unsatisfactory 

 appearance. 



Of all the flowering plants suit- 

 able for winter decoration and 

 window gardening. It would be hard to 

 name any of more simple requirements, or 

 greater certainty to give satisfactory results 

 when treated with ordinary good care, than 

 these bulbous plants named. The expense 

 for the bulbs is comparatively small, and 

 they can be easily brought to bloom. 



A few bulbs of Iris reticulata, Chionodoxa 

 lucilae. Snowdrops and Crocuses may also 

 be potted; as they flower very early without 

 the aid of artificial heat, and present a beau- 

 ful appearance when in bloom. They had 

 better be grown in five-inch pots, as many 

 bulbs put in each as it will hold without 

 overcrowding. 



Taste and Tact In Arranging Home 

 and Other Grounds.* 



ELKVENTH PAPER. 



Our present subject is that of a Village 

 Square containing about four acres. The 

 upper diagram shows the square in Its 

 present form; the other, a new design which 

 we have prepared at the request of citizens, 

 who see little to admire in the formal ar- 

 rangement of the other. Assistance was 

 sought at this time, because a change to a 

 better plan can now easily be made, as the 



a 9 



00^ 



naturalness and repose might with so much 

 greater fitness, characterize the place? 

 What possible excuse, in the present in- 

 stance, for crowding 150 or more free and 

 graceful trees into a set, orchard-like ar- 

 rangement, when a more natural course for 

 locating the material could be taken, con- 

 verting the square into a most charming, 

 restful place? 



The substitute shown by the lower dia- 

 gram, is designed to present such an im- 

 provement, namely, the landscape-garden 

 plan of arrangement. There is provided, 

 first, the means of securing quiet, 

 restful lawn eflfects in place of 

 areas of angular outlines; second, 

 easy, graceful curves, in marked 

 contrast with the geometric lines 

 of the town outside, define the 

 walks and drives; third, the trees 

 arranged after an irregular order 

 —nature's own suggestion — with 

 the desirable effect of Imparting 

 a charm peculiar to the natural 

 grove and landscape, in the very 

 heart of the town. The material 

 to be used In the embellishment 

 is that comprising the trees now 

 occupying the ground, with a 

 few additional kinds, for the sake 

 of variety, and some clumps of 

 flowering shrubs located here and 

 there, near the driveways. 



In all garden and park-making 

 let the fact be fully appreciated, 

 that the purpose of such work 

 should be the securing of delight- 

 ful places of beauty and rest, for 

 pleasure, or perhaps more im- 

 portant, for recreating our tired 

 brains and bodies, at intervals 

 from the cares and labors of a 

 busy world. Nature's materials 

 in soil, grass, trees, flowers, sun- 

 shine and lireezes, are perfectly 

 suited to contribute their part 

 towards the recreating garden 

 spot. It is our privilege to rightly 

 use or misuse these gifts. 



Let the reader imagine for a 

 moment, the restful effect on the 

 mind of a brain-tired business 

 man, housekeeper or employee, 

 as an oasis, like the lower engrav- 

 ing, is met In the midst of a 

 town's brick and mortar, as com- 

 pared with coming in contact 

 with the unnatural garden, pre. 

 sented by the other figure. 



A Village, Square of Four Acres, Before and After Improviny. 



trees have but recently been planted, a 

 number have died and the highways are 

 not yet constructed. 



The fault of the present plan Is one al- 

 most as common as the existence of town 

 squares, namely, that the arrangement is 

 on the geometric order. It is the fault 

 everywhere met of crowding into a town's 

 beauty spot, more of the same straight lines 

 and angles, that already exist In the street 

 courses and blocks outside, when here is the 

 spot of all others for expressing some 

 marked contrasting features. Why adopt 

 stiffness and straightness in bits of park set 

 aside to refresh the eye and mind, when 



2,51fl. Fruit Tree Seeds. Peach pits 

 for planting, by nurserymen, are usu- 

 ally picked up here and there, the 

 larger part coming from Tennessee, 

 During the properseason yon will find 

 them advertised in the horticultural 

 jmpers, at very reasonable rates. A 

 large share of the Pear, Apple, Plum, 

 and other seeds of orchard fruits, are 

 impcirted, and you will find them 

 offered tor sale by leading dealers in 

 seeds. Of course, any seeds Ot our or- 

 dinary fruits— Apples, Pears, Plums, 

 etc.— are just as good for planting as 

 any you can e.xpeet to purchase, 

 whether of imported or domestic 

 stock. They are easily cleaned, and 

 can be planted in well-prepared 

 ground in autumn; ur they may be kept until 

 spring and then sown. Usually the former 

 course is the better.— (JJ. R. 



2,471. Cheap Flower Pit. I kept my tender 

 Roses last winter by having a frame made of 

 planks. This was set on the ground and the 

 earth inside taken out to a depth of 1 to IJ.^ feet, 

 and this earth banked up the frame. Then I 

 filled in, first, horse manure, then muck and 

 sand, and planted my Roses, covering them with 

 glass and in the cold weather a piece of carpet. 

 The last of the winter I put more manure on the 

 outside, and my Koses kept green all winter and 

 in the early spring sent out fine strong shoots, 

 which have borne some of the finest Roses lever 

 saw. I shall try other plants the same way this 

 winter. This would hardly be called a pit, but 

 has been a very ine,\penslve yet successful way 

 to keep Roses at least.— H. BABCOCk, .V. F. 



