i88s. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



comes from this, is well worth our considering. 



The Electricians of the Old World, are among 

 the latest strong advocates of employing trees 

 as protectors from lightning. Investigation 

 leads them to conclude, that the greatest protec- 

 tion a building can have is to have tall trees 

 near by. The branches are so many points, con- 

 ducting the electricity by the trunk to the ground. 



As to what particular trees are the best for 

 this purpose, there is some question, but all 

 agree that tall growers are the most desirable, 

 also that those with erect branches are better 

 than such as have spreading 

 ones. Perhaps all tall grow- 

 ing kinds like Oak, Poplar, 

 Hickory, Horse-chestnut, 

 Elm, Pine or Spruce, are of 

 nearly equal value. 



It is an old belief that a 

 Beech tree is never struck 

 by lightning. Instances are 

 on record to show that this 

 tree has been struck, but 

 these are so few, as to lead 

 to the belief that at the most, 

 it rarely attracts the electric 

 bolt. But this being true it 

 is of course against the use 

 of the Beech in the close 

 neighborhood of building, 

 for the trees wanted here as 

 guards, are those that are 

 not obnoxious to lightning, 

 but will attract it and thus 

 keep it away from the 

 buildings. 



The place for a tree like 

 the Beech, would rather be 

 in parks, cemeteries, pastures 

 and similar places remote 

 from buildings. Then 

 persons and animals could 

 find comparative safety 

 under them, during sudden 

 thunder storms. The 

 Chestnut is also believed to 

 be repulsive to lightning. 



In planting to protect buildings, a distance 

 of fifty feet away would be proper. To have 

 the trees closer there would be danger, in case 

 of a stroke of lightning, that the fluid would 

 follow the ground to the building. A small 

 pond between the tree and the building would 

 render the protection about complete. 



sembles somewhat a tall, vigorous Snowdrop, 

 the pure white flowers being tipped with green 

 at the ends of the petals, inside and out. The 

 season of bloom is early summer. The plant 

 somewhat resembles that of the DatTodil, thrives 

 in any soil, and multiplies by the division of the 

 bulb. It forms a pleasing object either in the 

 mi.xed flower border, or in the margin of shrub- 

 beries. Indeed so readily does it succeed, that 

 we are not sure but it would take good care of 

 itself, in the uncultivated wild garden. The 

 only American catalogue in which we find the 



A Good, Hardy Plant— The Summer 

 Snowflake. 



It shall be the aim of Popular Gardening 

 from month to month, to introduce plants of 

 merit to the attention of its readers. Not only 

 will we attempt to show by descriptions and 

 engraving what they are, and where and how 

 they should be grown, but what is often of 

 more importance to growers, where they may 

 be procured. While this may, as in the present 

 case necessitate the mention of the names of 

 growers or dealers, this will always be done 

 with the utmost impartiality. Let it be under- 

 stood once for always, that this paper is the 

 organ of no concern, but the helper, first of 

 amateurs, and then of all growers and dealers of 

 articles of the garden, whoever they may be. 



The Summer Snowflake (Leucojum astivum) 

 is a handsome and graceful plant, bearing flow- 

 ers of the size and form shown in the engraving, 

 on stalks from i foot to lA feet high. It re- 



some 



advertisers 



autumn or 

 the spring. In 

 any case the 

 plants would 

 flower somewhat during the following season. 



THE SUMMER SNOWFLAKE. 



Tree Pets In China. 



No doubt the people in China have as good 

 a right to adopt pets after their own fancy, as 

 other people have. While we have no fancy 

 for curiously dwarfed tree pets that may be fifty 

 years old, and yet not more than a foot high, 

 still we must state a preference even for the 

 taste which produces these, to that shown by 

 some Christians for dwarfed canine pets, cham- 

 eleons and the like. But these dwarfed trees, 

 aside from being marvels in their way, teach a 

 lesson on the adaptability ]of vegetation, worth 



noticing. It is wonderful to see minature aged 

 Oaks, Chestnuts, Pines and Cedars, growing in 

 small flower pots. The dwarfing process con- 

 sists in commencing with the young plant, and 

 cutting off its tap root and placing in good soil. 

 Rapid growth is checked by shortening the 

 roots. The leaves grow smaller year by year. 



On Choosing Varieties of Fruit. 

 "What shall I plant," is a common and 

 natural question addressed by a great many 

 prospoftive planters, to their gardening papers. 

 It would, in most cases, be 

 better to consult local 

 authorities and learn pre- 

 cisely what kinds succeed 

 best, in any given locality, 

 than to rely upon the judg- 

 ment of men living far 

 away. Local meteorological 

 influences, soil and situa- 

 tion, are such important 

 factors in deciding upon 

 such points, that general 

 advice in this, is compara- 

 tively without great value. 



The importance of good 

 selections needs hardly to 

 be urged. It may be said, 

 however, that a dozen trees 

 in kinds exactly adapted to 

 a certain locality, will at any 

 time yield many times better 

 results, than a dozen trees 

 that are ill-suited to the 

 place. 



Watch the doings of your 

 neighbors who raise fruit. 

 Be on hand where they sell 

 their products and it may 

 soon become apparent which 

 kinds stand in the highest 

 favor with producers and 

 consumers both, and which 

 command the best prices. 

 Kinds that are conspicuous 

 in such respects, and which 

 are known to be healthy 

 growers and good bearers, 

 are the ones it is safe to 

 decide upon. Don't hesitate 

 to seek an acquaintance with 

 neighboring fruit growers, 

 with a view to consulting 

 them about this matter. 

 Generally you will find these ■ 

 men an open-hearted class, 

 that in a marked degree are 

 unguided by narrow princi- 

 ples, and who will be glad 

 to give you such advice as 

 lies in their power. 

 It is worth while to be at a good deal of 

 pains in deciding on what to plant. Trees 

 once planted are, or ought to become, permanent 

 features of one's possessions. Poor calculations 

 at the start will probably work against the 

 planter's interests for a life time. 



Shipping Fruit. 



In shipping fruit, mark plainly, including 

 your own name or initials, and take receipts for 

 all packages, from the carriers. Make out com- 

 plete invoice and advice, which send by mail, 

 with duplicates in a marked package. Study to 

 patronize the quickest transportation lines. 



