i886. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



63 



Girdled trees, froui mice, rabbits ami tlie like, 

 afford a sorry looking: sight, but if the inner bark 

 is not entirely gone, they may be saved by binding 

 on a plaster of fresh eow dung and soil. If the in- 

 jury is severe, and the tree valuable, grafts are 

 sometimes set in around the trees, with one end in- 

 serted in the bark below, and the other in that 

 above the wound, to save it. This plan, iu theory, 

 seems to be all right, and may be wortli trying, but 

 permanentl.v good results from it are rather rare. 



Grafting- Commence with Oheny very early to 

 avoid failure; Plums almost as early; Apples and 

 Pears later still, while the Grape is usually grafted 

 in June with the best success. 



Insects. There is no time for fighting some of 

 our worst insect pests like early spring. Take the 

 Tent CattrpiUar for one, you can destroy 2<X) or 

 more eggs, (equal to that many worms later), as 

 easily now as a single worm in June. Their nests 

 encircle small branches of Apple trees near their 

 ends and are easily seen. Out out and burn. Early 

 in the spring is the time that the female moths of 

 the Cniiker-irorm ascend the trees. The simplest 

 preventative and destroyer is a tight band of tarred 

 paper a foot wide, around the trunk, and kept 

 painted with tar and jjrinters ink. To this, the 

 moths will stick and soon die. Renew this paint 

 every time it becomes glazed over. Troughs of 

 metal, filletl with kerosene, are also used, and with 

 less trouble, but the fh-st cost is much greater. To 

 scrape the trees of rough bark, will take away the 

 chance of the beetles of the Flat-hetirlecl Borer's 

 finding a secure place t4> lay eggs later. Do not 

 scrape harshly. 



Pruning. See directions in previous months. If 

 any branches have become broken during wiuter, 

 cut them away. All large wounds from whatever ' 

 cause, .should have thv surface thickly painted. 



ach, Turuips, as soon as the soil is tillable. A good 

 distance for garden rows is 1.5 inches apart. 



Spinach. Uncover the fall sown plants. .Sow for 

 spring and summer use in drills one foot apart. 



Tomatoes. Directions under Peppel-s will ai>ply. 

 The gain in earliness of fruit that comes from sow- 



) 



VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



Asparagus. Now is the time to make new beds 

 for family use, do not bother to raise from seed but 

 buy one or two year old roots, at from $l.W to 83.50 

 per hundred, jjrepaid : thus gaining a year or more. 



Cabbage. Sow out doors as early as the soil will 

 work up well. To avoid disaster from the Black 

 .Jumping Beetle, sow three to five pounds of super- 

 phosphate to the square rod, for hastening growth 

 beyond their reach. It is a good plan to sow in 

 drills twenty inches apart, with a drill of Turnips 

 midway between, to attract the appetites of the 

 Beetles. Dusting the young Cabbage plants with 

 lime, ashes or soot will help to save them from these 

 pests. The seed-bed should occupy new soil each 

 season. For small quantities, sowing in seed beds 

 elevated four feet, will place them above their reach 



Cauliflower. Treat as for Cabbage plants. 



Chives, Trim off the dead leaves. For new 

 beds divide old plants, and set in rows 12 inches 

 apart, t; inches in row. 



Cold frame plants ma.v now go much uncovered 

 —the .sash can be used, to forward Lettuce, or on 

 hot-beds. In case of cold, board shutters will an- 

 swer to protect them for a brief time. 



Culture. Do not be impatient to work the soil 

 very early; a wet soil unduly worked will not get 

 into its best condition all season. In forking or 

 plowing it should crumble freely when turned. Use 

 plenty of manure ; for most vegetables the ground 

 cannot very easily be made too rich. 



Egg Plant. See directions below for Peppers. 



Hot-beds. March will be early enough to start 

 these in most places north. See last month's notes. 



Parsnips. Dig those left in the ground, and sow 

 for a new crop in drills 15 inches apart. 



Peppers. Seed should be sown in a wanu place 

 in the hot-bed, window or greenhouse, if not yet 

 done. As soon as the seedlings can be well handled 

 transfer singly to small pots, or plant in boxes. To 

 allow them to become crowded and choked is very 

 in,iurious. Use Ught rich soil. 



Plant Potatoes and (jnion sets among tu-st things. 



Radishes are a favorite crop. They need a deep, 

 rich soil, the growth must be rapid. Sow as early 

 as the gi'ound works up well; they may be sown in 

 the sanie line with Beets or Carrots. The maggot 

 is the dread of all: an abun<lance of coal ashes 

 well mixed with the soil will prevent their work. 



Rhubarb. The earlier new plantations are made j 

 after the soil is fit to work, the better. Choose deep ' 

 rich soil, plant stout pieces of several eyes each. 



Salsify. Treat as directed above for Parsnips. 



Scorzonera. Treat as directed for Parsnips. 



Sowings in the open ground may be matle of such 

 hardy kinds as Early Beets, Cabbage, Carrots, 

 Leeks, Cress, Lettuce, Radish, Peas, Parsley, Spin- 



Air-Layering of an Indian Rubber Tree (Reus.) 

 See Propagation on Opposite Page. 



ing in heat over sowing in open ground about May 1st, 

 is. however, not as great as is generally supposed. 



FRUIT AND VEGETABLES UNDER 

 GLASS. 



Asparagus, in forcing pits, must have air and 

 light to develop well. The growth should be quick. 



Cucumbers. Stop regularly beyond the fruit. 

 Beds that have lately been started should be care- 

 fully aired every morning to let off rank steam, 



Figs in forcing, need liberal watering and syring- 

 ing. Stop growmg shoots at about the sixth joint. 

 Give steady heat. 



Grapery. In early houses pinch latei-als; thin out 

 superfluous bunches as soon as the berries are fairly 

 set, the thinning to be done with a bold hand ; air 

 freely, but avoid chilly draughts, water abundantly. 

 In colder houses as the leaves begin to expand 

 syringe daily until fully out. 



Pinery. Plants that are required to start for fruit- 

 ing must not have too high a temperature. To" for 

 bottom heat and 65° degrees for top heat will be 

 about the thing. Ventilate freely, to keep the young 

 growth stocky from the very first. 



Strawberries. Fruit just ripening off must be 

 freely exposed to the light and air to bring out the 

 full flavor. Drop the use of liquid manure as soon 

 as the fruit begins to show the first signs of color. 



The Catalogue Crop; A Grand One, 

 and not all in yet. 



The mission of Popular Garde.ving is to popular- 

 ize improved gardening. In the many fine cata- 

 logues put forth by American Seedsmen, Florists 

 and Nureerymen, and which now are being sent 

 out, it recognizes an able class of helps in the same 

 field. We therefore gladly bring all such as reach 

 this otifice, before the attention of our readers, for 

 the mutual advantage both of the publishers and 

 the people. These catalogues contain an immense 

 amount of practical information, as well as tine en- 

 gravings of flowers, fruits and vegetables. As they 

 are mainly free, we hope our readers will gather 

 of the crop, and make good use of it. If they will, 

 when ordering, mention being of the Popular Gar- 

 dening family, they may be sure of receiving real 

 good, perhaps a little e-vtra, treatment. See last 

 month's li.st. 



AUyn Bros, Pahnyra, N. Y. Nursery Stock. 



Irving Allen, Springfield Mass. Small Fruits. 



S. L. Allen & Co., Philadelphia, Pa. Implements. 



J. Bolgiano & Son. Baltimore, Md. .Seeds, etc. 



W. Atlee Burpee A Co., Phila., Pa. Seeds, etc. 



Robert Buist, Jr., Philadelphia, Pa. Seeds, etc. 

 *J. J. Bell, Windsor. N. Y. Seeds. 



Bloomington Nui'series. Bloomington, 111. 



A. Brackenbridge, (iovanstown, Md. Orchids. 



Wm. E. Bowditeh, Boston, Illass. Plants, etc. 



Hugo Beyer, New London, Iowa. Seeds. 



Geo. W. CampbeU, Delaware, ( ). Grape vines, etc. 



O. W. Clark & Son, ButTalo, N. Y. Seeds, etc 

 *Harry Chaapel, Williatusport, Pa, Plants, etc. 



J. Lewis Childs, Floral, N. Y'. Plants, etc. 



A. D. Cowan & Co. New Y'ork, N. Y'. Seeds, 

 ♦Henry A. Dreer, Philadelphia, Pa. Seeds, etc. 

 *The Dingee & Conard Co., W. Grove, Pa. Roses. 

 *Jno. F. Da.vton, Waukon, Iowa. Small Fruits. 



Z. DeForest Ely, Philadelphia, Pa. Seeds, etc. 

 ♦Ellwanger & Barry, Rochester, N. Y'. Nureery. 

 ♦Ellis Bros., Keene, N. H. Seeds, etc. 



Exeter Machine Works, Exeter, N. H. Heaters. 

 *J. A. Everitt i: Co.. Watsontown, Pa. Seeds, etc. 



D. M. Ferry, Detroit, Mich. Seeds, etc. 



Frank Ford, & Son., Clyde, <.>luo. Seeds, etc. 

 *J. A. Foote, Terra Haute, Ind. Seeds, etc. 



Jas. J. H. Gregory, Marblehead, Mass. Seeds, etc. 

 *L. W. Goodell, Dwight Mass. Seeds, etc. 



Edward Gillett. Southwick, Mass. Wild Plants. 



Cljiis. A. (in-en. Kn.hcster. N. Y'. Nureery Stock, 



Hale Hr'>s. South Glastonbury, Conn. Nursery. 



Hill ,Si Co., Kichmoiid, lud. Roses, Plants, etc. 



Jolm. W. Hall. .'Maiioii Station, Md. Small Fruits. 



J, Hornerc'i: Son, M.-r.liantville, N. J. Small Fruits. 



.lo.-icph Harris Seed Co,. Rochester, N. Y'. Seeds. 



R rt Halli.lay, Hallimore. Md. Plants, etc. 



C. -■>l. Hovey & I'll,. Boston, Ma.ss. Seeds, etc. 

 ♦HiiiipesBro, \ Thiinias. W.Chester. Pa. Roses.etc. 



Jno, G. Hartel. Keokuk. Iowa. Seeds. 

 *M. C, Henley. Ricliiiiuiid, Ind, Fences. 



W. H. Jones. Phllaili-lphia, Pa. Seeds, etc. 



Livingston's Sons, ( 'olujubus, O. Seeds, etc. 

 *J. T. Lovett. Lit lie Silxer, N. J. Nursery Stock 

 *S. F. Leonard. Cliicago. III. Seeds. 

 *F. N. Lang, Baraboo. Wis. Seeds. 



Wm. S. Little, Rochester, N. Y. Nursery Stock 

 •Win. Henry Maule Philadelphia, Pa, Seeds 



Wm H. Moon. Jlorrisville. Pa. Nursery Stock. 



,lno. B. Moore i Son, Concord, Mass. Small Fruits. 



J. O. Manson. Hanford, Pa. Seeds. 



Thomas Meehan, Philadelphia. Pa. Nursery Stock 

 *F. H. Mooers, Pittston. Me. Seeds. 



Munroe County Nurseries. Rochester, N. Y. 

 *JohnR. & .4. Muidiick. Pittsl)iM-gh, Pa. Seeds, etc. 



J. W. Manning. Reading. Mass, Nursery Stock. 



Michel Plant i Seed Co., St Louis Mo. Seeds, etc 



A. C. Nellis & Co., Canajoharie, N. Y'. Seeds. 



Nanz & Neuner, Louisville, Ky. Plants, etc. 



Paragon Seed and Plant Co , Newtown, Pa. 



Paul Butz & Son, New Castle, Pa. Plants & Trees. 



Geo. Pinney. Evergreens, Wis. Nursery Stock. 



Herbert Post. Selma. Ala. Seeds. 



E. D. Putney. Brentwood, N. Y. Small Fruits. 



Clark Pettht, Salem, N. J. Nursery Stock. 



R. B. Parson & Co., Flu.shing. N.Y'. Nursery Stock. 



Price & Knickerbocker, Albany, N. Y'. Seeds, etc 



A. M. Purdy, Palmyra, N. Y. Small Fruits. 

 *Chas. A. Reeser, Springfield, Ohio. Plants, etc 



S. E. Rogers, & Son, TUt. Holly, N. J. Nurserj-. 

 ♦Beach A' Co., Richmond, Ind. Plants, etc. 



Wm. Rennie, Toronto, Out. Seeds. 



Arthur C. Rendle, New Y'ork, N. Y. Glazing 



E. H. Ricker & Co., Elgin. IU. Nursery Stock. 

 J. B. Root & Co., Rockford, 111. Seeds 

 Wm. H. Smith, Philadelphia, Pa. Seeds. 

 Wm. W. Sterling, Cutchogue, N. Y. Seeds. 

 Hiram Sibley, Rochester, N. Y. Seeds. 

 R. H. Shumway, Rockford, IU. Seeds. 

 ♦John Saul, Washington, D. C. Plants, etc. 

 ♦The Storrs, Harrison Co., Painesville, O. Nursery. 

 Chas. T. Starr, Avondale, Pa. Plants. 

 I. N. Stone, Fort Atkinson, Wis. Small Fruits. 

 Anton Schultheis, College Point, N. Y. Roses, etc. 

 E. D. Sturtevant. Bordentown, N. J. Plants, etc. 

 A, E. Spalding, .\insworth. Iowa. Seeds. 

 Sedgwick Bros.. Richmond, Ind. Fences. 

 J. F. Tillinghast, La Plume, Pa Seeds. 

 J. M. Thornburn i Co., New Y'ork, N. Y. Seeds. 

 E. Y'. Teas, Dunreith, Ind. Nursery Stock 

 J. H. Tryon, Willoughby, O. Grapes. 

 *J. C. 'Vaughan. Chicago. III. Seeds, etc. 

 West Jersey Nurser.y Co., Bridgeton. N. .1. 

 Samuel Wilson, MechanicsvUle, Pa. Seeds, etc 

 Wiley & Co., Cayuga, N. Y''. Nursery Stock. 

 A. Whitcomb, Lawrence, Kan. Plants. 

 ♦■WTiitney-Noyes Seed Co.. Binghainton, N Y' 

 ♦See Advertisement elsewhere in this issue 



An Alarming Measure. It Should be 

 Opposed Mightily. 

 Lately a bill was brought before Con- 

 gress, by Senator 'VVilsou, of Iowa, to double 

 the rate of postage on Fourth-Class Mail Mat- 

 ter, which includes Seeds, Plants, Cions and 

 similar articles. It is believed to have been 

 instigated by the Express companies. For 

 such a measure to become a law, would work 

 serious iujiu-y, especially to the gardening in- 

 terests of our country. Not onlj- would all 

 dealers in garden requisites be greatl}' embar- 

 rassed, but the people themselves would suffer 

 through the increase of price on all seeds, 

 plants, etc., and in their inability iu many 

 cases to procure these at all. This would be 

 felt vastly more on the frontiers of our coun- 

 try, where Express rates, from lack of compe- 

 tition, are very heavy, than in the interior. 

 Instead of putting up postage, it should be de- 

 creased to the lowest rate possible. This course 

 is the only one consistent with American de- 

 velopment and progress. AU citizens are sat- 

 isfied with low postage rates ; the %vealthy Ex- 

 press companies, alone, find fault %vith them. 

 They have a rich income at stake, and it would, 

 at the present crisis, be folly to uuder-estimate 

 their influence and power in pushing this 

 measure. All interested persons should at once 

 communicate with their Representatives in 

 Congress, and urge their influence against this 

 bill. Blank forms of petition have been pre- 

 pared, and will be furnished from this office, 

 to all who apply. Send for them, obtain sig- 

 natures and then forward to your Representa- 

 tives promptly. Let the Popular CiARDENiNG 

 family make itself felt, in this matter. Every 

 member should act. Delay, is indeed dangerous. 



