1 885- 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



27 



Geraniums. Propagration of thes** in all sorts, 

 f<ti- nsf ui'Xt summer, may go on, as slips apijeur. 



Geraniums, Fancy Leaved. These are not strouj? 

 pro\vei"s naturally, hence must be favored at this 

 season. On shelves near the glass, in a t<'mperature 

 of from ."»<i- to GO'', is the kind of place they need. 



Heliotrope. Propagate for early spring plants. 



Lobelias. The dii-ections for Alyssum will apply. 



Lycopodium. It is a good time now to divide 

 these, for getting up fine plants by next spring. 



Maurandia. The directions for Alj'ssum will suit. 



Mignonette. Sow now for early spring bloom. 

 The Summer-raised plants designed for winter 

 bloom, should have a warm, light place. Flower- 

 ing plants will bear liquid manure occasionally. 



Odd jobs lit in well at this season, when work 

 luuler glass does not crowd much. It is a time for 

 washing every soiled pot on the place; for putting 

 sash, hand glasses, frames, etc., that will be wanted 

 in early spring, in order: forgetting up the neces- 

 sary plant stakes, labels and the like, ^^^len a few 

 only of these are wanted they can easily be whittled 

 out; if many, it is much the cheapest way to buy. 



Orcllids require a watchful eye among them. So 

 many diverse climates are now represented in col- 

 lect ions of these, that it is dilticult to rest all together. 

 Such kinds, therefore, as should now be kept grow- 

 ing hke Coelogyneas. Ada aurantiaca or C'idium 

 macranthum. it is better to move into a growing tem- 

 perature, than to risk keeping them with the others, 

 which are now treated to a cool atmosphere. 

 While Cool Orchids require no more than 45" to 50° 

 of heat, and will bear free airing, still they must not 

 be submtted to strong or chilling draughts. 



Pelargoniums should be helped to make a free 

 growth at this season, a thing they will readily do 

 if not neglected. Along with this, there must be 

 attention to pineliingback for making bushy plants. 



Koot Cuttings '^f Anemone. Bouvardia. and simi- 

 lar plants that propagate by the roots, may be 

 made and started, by putting into light earth, in 

 ]nr>derate heat, and keeping moderately wet. 



Temperature. Aim at uniformity: respect the 

 needs of the majority. In almost everj- plant- 

 hoiise a considerable variation in the heat is found 

 in different parts. Place the heat-lovers in the 

 warmest i)arts, and so on. If separate apartments 

 are had for the Stove or Hot-house plants and for 

 the Green-house plants— and this is the best way- 

 aim at from 00° to 70° for the former and about 

 45° to 50'^ for the latter at night. 



Verbenas. The directions for Geraniums apply. 



old stocks that were housed before freezing weather. 

 After grafting, pack the grafted stock in boxes of 

 earth in the cellar until spring. A jirejudice is 

 afloat against root -grafted trees: there is reason 

 in this, as applied to grafts upon pieces of root; 

 not so when grafte<l on stocks at the (M)llar. 



Vines set out last spring, may before winter Ih* 

 pruned down to about three buds. Those .set a year 

 ago and longer, should have the canes that are to 

 bear next si'ason. cut l)ack to six. seven or eight 

 buds each, according to the strength of thei>lant. 

 Whatever system of priming is ailopted. let it be re- 

 membered that there is more danger of not pruning 

 enough, than of over-pruning. Also that the object 

 of pruning shoiUd be to secure strong shoots fo?" 

 bearing, and to replace these annually by new ones. 

 After pnining. the vines should be laid down and 

 covered as directed for Raspberries. 



above f»0° should be kept up in the daytime, but this 

 may be allowed to fall to i't' or even less in secure 

 weather at night. Plants for late fruiting should !>e 

 in the pit. freezing that will not break the pots will 

 do them no hiu't if it iseonlinuotis. 



FRUIT GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 



Now that the work of the year is about all done , 

 in this department, it is a good time to look back 

 over the results of the season, and forward to mak- 

 ing improvements. It should be remembered that \ 

 the best success here usually attends the greatest 

 degree of practical intelligence appUed; new ideas 

 concerning kinds and methods should be sought in 

 the winter's leisure, by visiting and consulting other 

 fiiiit growers, by reading horticultural l)ooks and 

 periodicals, ete. In communities where the inter- j 

 est in fruit culture is somewhat general, a Fruit i 

 Urowei-s" Club is a good thing; now is a proper 

 time to establish it. Let it be largely informal in 1 

 its character and methods. Let the meetings be 

 held once or twice a month at the houses of in- 

 terested persons,— then the social features will also ' 

 aid in strengthening the work. 



Manuring. Whether the orchard is kept culti- 

 vated or in grass, it needs a hgbt dressing of ma- 

 nure every year for best results. This is the best 

 month for ai>plying, by top dressing. Let it be fine j 

 and old. Composts are excellent. ; 



Peach trees when young, can readily be pro- 

 tected by digging on one side of the tree, taking 

 some earth out from under the body, then cutting 

 some of the roots, bending down the tree and peg- 

 ging it to the earth. Then the roots should be 

 heavily covered with soil and the top either with 

 soil or straw, the former we think the l)est, in light 

 soils. Trees as high as ten feet have l»een thus cov- 

 ered every year, with the result of bearing heavy 

 crops of fruit even in the North. 



Pests. Mice and rabbits injure and kill nuiny 

 yomig trees each winter by gnawing the bark. 

 Wi-ap tarred felt around the trunks to prevent this. 



Baspberries niay yet be protected if it was n<it 

 done last month. Bend over the canes carefully, 

 not to t>reak them, in the direction of the row. and 

 cover slightly with earth. One man can do the 

 work. but two men will doit more than twice as fast. 



Root grafting is work for the w inter season, as 

 it is done in the house upon the roots of oue-year- 



VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



Cabbage and Cauliflower Plants. < »n raising 

 these next spring, see article elsewhere in this issue. 

 A main part to observe now. is to prepare the soil 

 of the seed bed before winter. The land can hardly 

 be made too rich. Apply a heavy coat of old tinely- 

 divided manure, either as a top dressing or by spad- 

 ing it in. Fresh manure will not answer for the 

 purpose. 



Celery. In the Middle States and further south, 

 the directions of last month may apply. In the 

 North thetrvnchesshoul I receive their final covering. 



Composts and manure should now be aceumu- 

 lated into heaps, and worked over occasionally, so 

 as to be in proper condition for the lan<l in the 

 Spring. Have an eye to seeming any valuable fer- 

 tilizers, that may be going to waste, or which can 

 be bought at a small cost in your neighborhood. 

 The place one can usuallj- strike such is about 

 slaughter-houses, bi'eweries. and like places. 



Crops like Spinach, sown in the fall for spring use. 

 should receive a two inch coat of leaves or hay. 

 when hard cold is at hand. 



Digging over unoccupied areas, can usuall^v be 

 as weU done this month as any time. Deep stirring 

 and successive freezing of the soil is of gi'eat benefit 

 to the crops, and for best results not a square rod of 

 the empty beds should be left undug. 



Improvements and alterations about the gardens 

 may yet be made. Where old bushes are to be 

 grubbed up, or underdraining or trenching is to be 

 done, this is a suitable time for the work. 



Leaves. A good lot should be gathered for mix- 

 ing with fresh manure to make hot -beds next spring. 

 Allowed to decay, thej- afford an excellent material 

 to mix with soil, for any kind of plants. 



Peas and Lettuce may now be sown at the South. 



Seeds. Let «.ild stock be overhauled and the 

 worthless thrown out. Keep the good in a cool, dry 

 place, and away from mice and I'ats. 



Tools should all be housed and in clean order. 



FRUIT AND VEGETABLES UNDER 

 GLASS. 



Cold Frames or Pits. The object of these is not 

 to advance the i>lants. but merely to prevent too 

 severe freezing and injury from exposure to wind. 

 On all mild days admit air freely. 



Cucumbers. Seed sown in Septeml>er will bear by 

 Januar\- and later, in a suitable temperature. Their 

 culture in winter re'iuires a bottom heat of nearly 

 70°. produced by the use of leaves with a slight addi- 

 tion of stable manure; a t<-)p heat of 70° at m'ght and 

 80° in the <lay with 00° in the sun. They should not 

 be encouraged too much with stimulants, unless the 

 plants are strong. Train the leaders up their entire 

 length, before stopping, then stop all side shoots at 

 the second joint. 



Grapery. Where Grapes of late vineries have 

 been allowed to remain on the plants until this time, 

 they now should be cut. as they will keep better in 

 the fruit room than on the vines. After tbe plants 

 of late vineries have been cleared, they shoidd be 

 pnmed and cleansed: dress the cuts with .styptic 

 and throw the ventilatersi>pen in suitable weather to 

 bring them into rest. 



Lettuce. Plenty of ventilation on all fine days 

 must be afforded, and all decayed leaves must be 

 picked off the plants as observable, for if left they 

 will souii cause damp. 



Strawberries. When flower stems api>ear the 

 plants shouhl go to the lightest and most aity place 

 of the house, that the plants may not become tlrawn. 

 and to favor fertilization of ttie Howei-s. Water only 

 enough to promote healthy growth and syringe the 

 plants in the foreut»on of bright days. A heat of 



This being thf People's PafKr it is open to all their In- 

 quires, bearing on Oardening. 



On the otht-r hand, ansirers to published inquirea art 

 fiimfstlu requested from readers. 



The editors and sjiecial contrihutOTV am ready to do a 

 Inrge shitre 0/ (ht- tuisteering, but the experience of many 

 being nmre vaiua/>le thnn of thrfcic, hotrt-ver tytried that is. 

 and coudit ions and li^ralitieit bt-ing so different, they pr^er 

 to receive ansicers, even several of them to the name quet 

 tion, from readers eferywhere. Don't hesitate to write 

 because you may feel you are nojlne writer; give facta and 

 ideas and the editors teilt see that they appear tn credi- 

 table shape. 



In writing, give the number of the question you are an- 

 stpering; your locality and uarnt; the latter not for publica- 

 tion unless you desire. M'riteonly on one side of the pajter 



Flowers will be gladly named pi-ovided first, thatnomorr 

 than three be sent at one time. Second, that these be fully 

 prepaid. Third, that several specimens of each reach us in 

 good shape. We cannot umlt-rtake to name florists' varie- 

 ties, 



12.— Chrysanthemums. Please state how long a 

 rest potted plants ..f these need, and should they 

 be allowed to get dust <lry:' Will suckers that have 

 appeared thus early, answer as well for next year's 

 stock as spring pi'opagated ones? Japanese C'hrys- 



ANTHEMX'M. 



13.— Black Insects. Whal will keep these from 



Chrysanthemums. A L.. Detroit, Mich, 



14.— Ferns for Bouquets. Will someone give nie 

 the names of in\e or two Fi-rns besides Maicfen hair, 

 suitable for making buttonhole bouquets and suit- 

 able for growing ni a gret-nhouse. Novice. 



ij.— Indian rubber Tree. I shall be thankful 

 if some reader of Pop. (Jardenino will give me in- 

 formation for iiroi'agating this plant. I tried sev- 

 eral cuttings last y^-ar but failed with all. New 

 Beginner. 



1(5— Tree Pseony. My plant has lost every flower 

 bud by blasting just before the time of opening. 

 Can any one tell how this may be prevented 

 in the future. L. E. L., Angola. X. Y. 



17.— Plants for shade. Can any reader give a 

 list of plants that will succt>ed in a much shaded 

 yard? Mrs. Bell. M'ln/nt.shoro, Pa. 



IS.— Cissus discolor. I have been told that this 

 plant renuires nuich heat, but does it want sun or 

 shade l)esides: J. E. Wales, IVabash. hid. 



Ui. -Cactus. What will make my Cactus bloom? 

 It is four years old and never had a tlower. Rainbow, 



ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES- 



5.— Plants for an Invalid. Plants easily grown 

 in a window, are English, (Jei'uum and Kenilworth 

 Ivies. Tradescanthia can lie grown in water. Cfilxea. 

 a vine, will be veiy satisfactorj". Geraniums, when 

 well started, simply need watering now and then. 

 Sister Gracious. 



0.— Cpleus in the House. This can be easily 

 raised in the window, if only care is t-aken against 

 frost. Mme succeeded well' on a shelf half waj- up 

 the window. The dark red-leaved kind is the "best 

 to winter. Si.'^ter (iRAciot's. 



5.— Plants for an Invalid. The Begonias in var- 

 iety are among the easirst grown and the most sat- 

 isfactory plants both in f<)liage and flowers. They 

 bear the close, hot atmosphere of our coal-heated 

 rooms acUnirabiy: they are of neat habit and orna- 

 mental, aside from the blossoms. The Cyclamen is 

 a lieautiful bulbous plant: with embroideretl leaves 

 and curious tiownrs r.n long stems. Freesias grown 

 in clumps in a hanging pot. are lovely. H3'acintbs 

 are very easUy grown in pots or glasses, and are so 

 sweet and lovely. 1 would not fail to have them. 



10.— Lachenalia. These should be potted in Oc- 

 tober, in light tibrous soil with a little sand inter- 

 mixed and watered m. tdt^rately. They bloom in the 

 winter. After tlowering. they need to be watered 

 until the foliage Ix-^ins to ttu'u yellow. They should 

 be kept in the soil. dry. during the summer. Mr.s. 

 M. D. Wellcome. Yanii'mth. Mt . 



0— Plantain Lilies not Blooming. I would sug- 

 gest that Mrs. H C. F. lift her plants early next 

 spring, divide each one int«i three or four and reset 

 in fresh soil, A. H. K. 



7.— Night Smelling Jasamine. it will keep all 

 winter in a room oi- greenhituse that is moderately 

 warm. It is set out in May and flowers steadily 

 through the season. .Shps "grow easily in a wann 

 propagating bed. A, H. K. 



s.— Tuberous Begonias. After flowering, the 

 tulHn*s may In- Kurii-d in dry sjind or earth and win- 

 tered in any out of the-way place, where it d(»ejs not 

 freeze. M. F. Wallace. .Yr"- Lisbou. O. 



11.— Hardy Ivy. We should exi)ect the Irish Ivy 

 to be hardv at .iaeksun. Mich., if grown in good soil 

 imthf north side of n l.uiMing. Kn.s. P. (i. 



i-i. -Chrysanthemum, in resting iiot chrjsanthe- 

 nuuns we would not allow them to become dust 

 drv. although m-arlv so. They do not need light 

 when at rest. To rest them until April is not to*3 

 long, ludess you <lesiiv to propagate them from 

 sliijs, in whii'h ca.se start up m Febniai-j . Wf 

 would much iirefer young sprnig propagated plants 

 tosuckei-s otfall. although the latter should also 

 succeed if kept a growing. Eds. V. G 



