i886. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



attachment, ami pipes to convey the heat for some 

 distance. Ttie upper part consists simply of a cone 

 shaped water jacket of copper or galvanized iron, 

 to wbich is connected a continuous pipe (shown 

 broken in the eutt two or more inches in diameter, 

 for circulating the hot wat^^r to impart heat. Un- 

 derneath is a movable base in which I be lami> is 

 set. A pipe for conducting any smoke or smell 

 arismg from combustion to a chuuney or stove pipe 

 is provided. Heaters of this or a similar style are 

 much used in England. One advantage possessed 

 is the slight care needed to manage them. 



Orchids at rest should have a complete rest, with 

 not a drop more of water than is absolutely needed 

 to prevent the bulbs shriveling. Better if they nmst 

 suffer, that it be from too little instead of too much 

 moisture. Cattle3"as, (^ncidiimis, and othei-s with 

 large fleshy bulbs need even less water than the 

 Vandas. Saccolabiums. Aerides and. those of a sim- 

 lar st.vle of growth. AMieu watering is really nec- 

 essary, do it eai'ly in the day and so carefully that 

 the tender foliage wUl not become splashed over. 

 The temperatiu'e for Orchids should he very regular 1 

 as a general thing, but during excessively cold spells 

 it would be better to allow the thermometer to drop 

 a few degrees below the average, than to employ 

 vei'y strong firing in ordei' to reach its reg\i!ar height. 



Pelargoniums. The beauty of these attractive 

 spring flowers later, will depenil upon free growth 

 now. The plants like rather a warm dry place, 

 plenty of room, air and sun-light. 



Feperomias. Propagate by division or else by in- 

 serting the leaf stalks into sand, to have the leaf 

 lying closp down to the same. 



Petunias. Du'ections for Geraniums will apply. 



Roses. The chief requirements of the ever bloom- 

 ing class nr.w. is a uniform temperature of from 5.5'= 

 to 60° by night, with 15° or 20° higher by day; syr- 

 inging twice daily; a flttle air on all suitable days, 

 and if the soil shows signs of exhaustion, liquid ma- 

 nm'ing once a week. The plants should be gone 

 over at intervals and have all blind shoots as well 

 as unduly straggling ones removed. If in cutting 

 Roses these are taken off with stems running back 

 to the second eye from the uext larger branch, little 

 other pruning besides this mentioned will be needed. 



Hybrid Perpetuals now under way, must have 

 an abundance of water, and plenty of air. A high 

 temperature is not needed. 



Seed sowing. See under The House Plants. 



Spring plants should be propagated according 

 to their habits; those flowering only after consider- 

 able growth has been made first, while quick bloomers 

 may have this deferred. Favor kinds of which stock 

 is scarce for hurrying up the growth of cuttings. 



Ventilate freely in bright and mild weather to 

 keep the atmosphere sweet. 



FRUIT GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 



Catalogues- See under Lawu and Flower Garden, 



Currants niay be pruned by shortening the last 

 seasons growth, and trimming to fonn open head. 



Cuttings. If Grape or Currant cuttings were 

 made in the fall, the^- should have slight protection 

 now; an inch in thickness of straw will answer. 



Gooseberries. Dn-ections for Currants will apply. 



Grape Vines in localities where they are not 

 covered, and are not yet pruned, should be pruned 

 in mild days before spring, to prevent free lileeding. 

 It is not known that bleeding does any real hurt, it 

 certainly does no good, being unnatural, and it looks 

 unsightlj' so had better be prevented. 



Insects. Very few are visible at this season, and 

 yet a sharp eye run over the branches, may detect 

 the rings of tent caterpillar eggs on them: and also 

 cocus insects when present. Wherever found 

 remove them; each one of the former destroyed 

 now. is equivalent to lessening the caterpillars of 

 uext season by three or four hundi'ed. 



Lahels on trees, if left as they come from the 

 nvirserj'- "'i^ *^y their wires as the branches enlarge 

 in time, cause strangulation. Serious damage is 

 often done to trees in this way. On mild days, go 

 over the trees and i-emove any that are liable to do 

 this. For permanent labels, use pine, making them 

 heavy, and painting, or else use zink and in either 

 case, copper wire about size Xo. H5. for fastening to 

 the trees making the loops so large that in years the 

 growth will not fill them. 



Mice and Rabbits. See under other depai-tments. 

 Shelter Belts. The winter season is a good time 

 to consider the etfects of these on the orchard. 

 Before spring we shall say more on this subject. 



Tree Pruning may be done in mild weather. More 

 harm comes from over-jiruning than from not 

 pruning enough. Week and impeif ect shoots should 

 come out, as also such as cross each other in close 



conjuction. Weak or stunted trees may often be 

 helped by a severe cutting back. Aim in piiming 

 to open the head,.that air and sun can enter. 



Tree Trunks may be scraped of loose bark, and if 

 infested with moss orscale.be painted with a mixture 

 of lime, soot and clay. Work the brush vigorously 

 that t!ie lifpiid may get into every crevice. Some 

 fruit growers find in liuseed oil one of the best 

 washes againsi bark insects, and it adds to, rather 

 than detracts from the appearance of trees. 



Winter Covering. If this has been displaced, 

 re-apply. Some dirt or moLst coal ashes on them 

 may serve to keep down light covei*s. 



\im\i 



VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



At the South farly vegetables may be sinvn from 

 January to April. Vegetables like flowers, may be 

 classed as hardy and tender, the former ineludiiiK 

 Peas. Parsnips, Parsley. <^nion. Leek, Lettuce. Cab- 

 bage, ( 'auIiHower, Cress. Spinach, Beets, etc. , may be 

 sown as soon as the conditi(>n of the soil will allow, 

 in any section. Tender kinds such as Beans, Toma- 

 toes, Cucumbei's and Melons, can only be sown with 

 safety South, North, or anywhere at Corn-planting 

 or Cherry-blossoming time. 



Cabhage plants in frames neetl an abmidance of 

 air whenever the temperature is to the thawing point 

 and abo\e, below this they need net be urtcovered 

 even for days together. 



Hot Beds. For these horse manure should be ac- 

 cumulated in a dry place, but not piled so deep as 

 to induce free heating before it is needed. A few 

 boards or rails laid up slanting where the manure is 

 deposited to prevent close settling, will aid in this. 



Lettuce in frames. See on Cabbage jjlants. 



Manure. Plent.r of manure, with tillage are al- 

 most the only secrets of raising large crops. In cold j 

 weather and with frozen ground manure hauling ' 

 may be done with greater ease to teams, than at any 

 other time. Manure should not however be spreail 

 at this season but so distributed in heaps, as to be 

 quickly available when needed. The piles should 

 be in a compact rather than a loose scattered form, 

 to prevent waste by the washing out of the strength 

 before the earth Ls thawed to receive it. 



nice are often troublesome in frames, cold pits, 

 root cellars and the like, now that their food is 

 scarce. Fix up some " pills " for them, by soaking 

 peas in water until they sweU, then roll in arsenic 

 and bury just below the surface in some light earth. 

 They will take these in preference to plants or veg- 

 etables, and it will be better that they should. 



Straw mats will be needed where there are sash 

 beds, A good size is to make them the width of a 

 sash and a halt, and of a length to hang down half 

 a foot at top and bottom of sash over edges of bed. 

 Tools. Put in order. New ones that are needed 

 may be made or ordered in the winter's leisure. 



FRUIT AND VEGETABLES UNDER 

 GLASS. 



Asparagus. Observe dh'ections for Rhubarb. 



Cucumbers in bearing, will require much light, 

 a moist but not very hmnid atmosphere, and a brisk 

 temperature. An occasional watering of bearuig 

 plants with weak hquid manure will be of use. 

 Fumigate for Greenfly or Thrip. 



Graperies that are now being started up should 

 have not above .^5'' of heat at the outset, and be well 

 syringed twice a day, to assist the breaking of the 

 buds. As the young gi-owth appears, sufticient air 

 must be admitted to prevent the growth from being 

 weak and the foliage thin, .\dvantage should be 

 taken of mild days to air the structure freel.y. 



Mushrooms. The nearer the temperature of bear- 

 ing beds can be kept to liO° the better. Steady 

 temperature will greatl.y prolong the bearing of the 

 beils. ^laniu-e should be saved up for new beds. 



Rhubarb under glass, nuist be kept well watered. 



Snow on Glass, On warm forcing houses it usu- 

 ally soon melts, but where the temperature inside is 

 kept rather low. it may need removing. A snow 

 scraper three feet long is one of the safe.st articles 

 for removing .soft snow. If a shovel nuist be used, 

 let it be of sufflcient width to reach over at least two 

 bars. Cold pits that are frozen up should not have 

 the snow removed from the glass, but frames that 

 are unfrozen inside nuist be kept clear of snow. 



Strawberries must not Vte allowed to overbear, 

 or the fruit will be small: a modei-ate number 

 of large berries are much more satisfactory than 

 many snmll ones. When enough have set. clip off 

 the remaining flowers, and then later count some in 

 removing the smallest ber-ries also. Appl.v the 

 syringe to keep down red spider. .\voiiI both 

 drouth and overwatering at the root. 



This being the PeopWs Paper it ia opeii tu all their In- 

 quires, bearing on Gardening. 



On the other hand, answerit to published inquires are 

 earnestly requested from readers. 



The editors and special contributors arc ready to do a 

 large share of the an steering, but the extterience of many 

 bring moi'e vatualile than of the feir, however varied that is. 

 andconditions andlocalitieN heiiig so different, they prefer 

 to receive ansteers, even several of them to the same ques 

 tion, from rea<lers ei^erytcherc. Don't hesitate to rerite 

 because you may feci you are no fine writer: give facts and 

 ideas and the editors wilt see that they appear in credi- 

 table shape. 



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

 steering; your locality and name, the latter not for publica- 

 tion unless you desire. Write only on one side of tlie paper 



Flowers will be gladly named provided first, that no more 

 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 undertake to name florists' varie- 

 ties, 



^'.— Can you give the methods adopted bj- the 

 florist, who get up such fine specimens of Chry- 

 santhemums, reported in the pai)er? When are cut- 

 tings i>ut in :■ Are they pot grown?— H. H. H. 



21.— Will you tell me what plant the enclosed 

 leaves belong to? It was sent me niinurs a name — 

 bore large ciustei-s i whitish flowers I which remained 

 long on stem. Is it Hyilrangea or Abutilon? — Mrs. 

 RoBT. Earl. 



'2. — Chrysanthemums, How do florists increase 

 their stock of the.se '; Are t he plants left in the green- 

 hou.se unpi-uned, or are they cut back or divided? 

 Must I water or dry .off.— Mrs. J. S. R. T. 



3:1—1 have a grand vine of Ipomea Nocturna or 

 Evening (ilory, a pure white, star-pointed flower, 

 pale green stripes to each point, deliciously fragrant, 

 which I desire to increase but do not know first step 

 to such accomplishment.— Mrs. J. S. R, T. 



34— Plants for Growing under Stages. Could 

 you name a hst of jjlants for this use? My conserva- 

 tory runs east and west, and I desire, especially, to 

 stock its space underneath the six feet wide central 

 stage.— Novice. 



2.5.— Tacsonia. I have heard it said that Tacso- 

 nia's can be raised from the seed, if so will you 

 please direct here.— J. G. H.arts. 



•21! —Palms for Greenhouse. Oblige 'Ignoramus' 



b,y naming some of the best Palms tor a cool green- 

 house. 



2r.— Quick Growing Hedge, AVhat plants do 

 you recommend fur making a liedge. along m.v 

 fruit garden, that soon will be fid! and handsome. — 

 Walter Gaims. (''iltitftntijus Co., X.Y. 



REPLIES TO INQUIRIES. 



4.— Select Schrubs, For twelve excellent flower- 

 ing Shrubs, we would include Golden BeU or For- 

 sythia, Japan Qninee, Flowering Plum. Plum-leaved 

 Spirtea, Lilac Persian. Lanced-ieaved Spira?a, Large- 

 flowered Jlock l.)range. Double Deutzia, Weigela, 

 Japanese Spira;a, Altlia>a, Lange-panicled Hydran- 

 gea. For increasing the nimiber to twent.v, add to 

 the above, Mezeron. Bush Honeysuckle, Dwarf, 

 Snowball. Alder-leaved Clethra, Purple Fringe.— A. 

 H. E. 



12.— Black Insects. Dust the Chiysanthemums 

 with tobacco powder, obtained by sifting the refuse 

 of cigar shops, through a fine seive.— Mrs. Geo. 



WiLSGER, Lltkv i'll.. Ohio. 



l.i.— India Rubber Tree. The matter of propa- 

 gating this tree, will receive full attention m the 

 coming March issue.— Eds. Popclar Gardening. 



Ki.— Tree Paeony. It would be impossible to point 

 the cause of the flower buds blasting, without see- 

 ing the plant, its l.>catioii, etc. I have noticed that 

 they grow ami blimin lietter in a sunny exposiu-e 

 then where there is shade. They delight in a rich 

 loamy soil.— -V. H. E. 



31— Names Wanted. It is not possible as a rule, 

 to name plants from leaves alone. These enclosed 

 are certainly not Abutilon. they may be some species 

 of Hydrangea, jierhaps H. Hortensi's.— Eds. P. ti. 



22.— Chrysanthemum. See answer to No. 13, page 

 27, December number. Previous to going to rest, 

 as there reterreil t.i, the i>lants are cut down to the 

 groimd. Florists pr.^iiagate their stock in Febru- 

 ary and March iisuallv. in which case the old plants 

 should be started into new growth, the latter part of 

 this month. Young shoots spring up from the 

 roots, and these are used for propagation.— A. H. E. 



ir.-Plants for Shade, On our place the follow- 

 ing succeed well in a sliaily yard. Sweet \ lolets, 

 Dicentra or- Bleeding Heart, Bloodroot, Tiilhums. 

 Hepatica's, some Campanula's. Vinca, Moueyvine, 

 several of the Herbaceous Spirii's and Saxifrages 

 among plants ; Tree-Box. Privet, Ivy, Daphne aiid 

 Kalmias, among hard wood growths.— Mrs. R. L. 

 Wade, Biirustnlttc Co., .l/r/.ss. 



18.— Cissus discolor. Aside from requiring the 

 accominnil,itioiis of a hot -house temperature, this 

 plant nerds huuiiditv and shade. Care must be 

 taken not U' syringe the leaves of the plant, tor this 

 will destroy their exquisite luster.— Williams Bros. 



m— Cactus not Blooming. You do not specify 

 the kind of Cactus you have. In general it may be 

 said, that Cactuses are natives of regions where there 

 is an excessively dry season, and an excessively wet 

 season in each year. Such a condition should be 

 imitated in our culture of them: the winter season 

 should be the ili'v season for most sorts.— .\. H. E. 



