78 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



April, 



L'='^^t«2'! 





t>N C 1 ES^^cJ 



My Easter Lily. 



In the black earth the root I laid— 



A dry. unlovely thing. 

 It seemed so tar from what was fair. 

 ' I only waste.'' I thought. " my care." 

 ' Nay, nay; it holds a royal flower: 



It keeps a pledge of spring. 

 Wait," whispered Faith, "in patient trust; 

 Thou shall see beauty rise from dust." 

 To-day thy shining-silver robe, 



O Easter Lily, wear. 

 Unfold thy golden heart; make sweet 



With incense all the air. 

 Sing with mute lips, thy Easter song. 

 I hear it. and my faith grows strong. 

 He sees, who waits in patient trast, 

 Immortal beauty rise from dust. 



—Hariier's Bazar. 



The Pansy season opens. 

 Roman Hyacinths are done. 

 Cut flowers keep best m a cool, close place. 

 Red and yellow is a fashionable combination. 

 Baskets of Pansies are favorite souvenirs now. 

 Jacqueminot buds have declined to a decent price, 

 lily of the Valley signifies the return of happi- 

 ness. 



Spring flowers are in good demand with aU 

 flower buyers. 



A more elegant affair than a miniature ship 

 loaded with Howers can hardly be conceived. 



Why Not. A tew Sundays ago the pulpit of one 

 of the churches of Brooklyn was embellished with a 

 bouquet made of the stems and leaves of the White 

 Plume Celery.— ifino; iWic Ymker. 



At a recent dinner at Delmonico's, in New York, 

 the centre piece on the table consisted of an im- 

 mense flat Ijasket, filled with Golden Dawn Gera- 

 nium flowers, with an edging of leaves of the same. 

 A vase-shaped flower basket, filled completely 

 with English Violets, excepting a bunch of Valley 

 Lilies in the center, was one of the attractive pieces 

 at a recent wedding. The Violets were loosely 

 arranged, harmonizing to a charm with the gilded 

 holder. 



The Violet is the emblem of the Bonapartes. 

 Whilst the first Napoleon was in exile this little 

 blossom was adopted by his followers as an em- 

 blem, and a small bunch of the flowers hung up in 

 the house, or worn l\y a Frenchman, denoted the ad- 

 herence of the wearer to his fallen chieftain. 



We have no objection to the use of flowers at 

 funerals or in cemeteries. What we would like to 

 see would be more bouquets used as gifts to the 

 living— to wives, sisters, mothers, and to the unfor- 

 tunate in sickness, where the gift can cany the 

 idea of appreciation along with it. as it cannot after 

 death. 



The Chrysanthemum— the national flower of 

 Japan-is honored every year by a special Imper- 

 ial Chrysanthemum Garden Party in the palace 

 grounds at Akasaka, one of which was lately given 

 by the Mikado. The Chrysanthemums there are 

 unequaled throughout the world, and some of the 

 plants display from SIB to 4m fully-developed blos- 

 soms at a time. 



Pansy Floral Designs. For funerals no others 

 are more appropriate, or handsome, than those 

 covered with Pansies alone. The designs of wire 

 should be filled full to firmness with soft moss. 

 Light wire, cut in lengths of an inch and a half, 

 with one end then thrust through the base of the 

 flower, and bent down, answers as to stemming. 

 These should insert easily into the moss. In naking 

 up we do not like to see the indiscriminate mixing 

 of colors Sort out the flowers according to color 

 and shade, then begin at the top of the design, 

 working in the darkest ones first, in cross or oblique 

 lines, and so on down through the colors, with the 

 light yellows or whites at the base. 



Bougainvillea branches are an attractive mate- 

 rial in floral decorations, but often poorly used for 

 best effects. For one thing, its striking purple color 

 does not harmonize well with most other kinds of 

 flowers. Used alone in one heavy garland for 

 adorning chandeliere, not by looping or winding it 

 about much— for this cannot be done— but by bring- 

 ing it around from top to bottom in one bold sweep, 

 even if it be rather stifBy, the effect is superb. It is 



just the article to use here or about large mirrors 

 by those who tire of the more "fussy" arrange- 

 ment of finer greens, as often used. Callas, how- 

 ever, combine Well with this material wherever 

 their use is appropriate. Cypripediimis and Alla- 

 mandas are other kinds that harmonize charmingly 

 with Bo\igaiiivillea. 



Shipping Cut Flowers. The American Express 

 Co.. recognizing the growing importance of the cut 

 flower trade, has determined to favor it in a most 

 worthy manner. Mr. Antisdel. General Superin- 

 tendent of the N. W. Division, has instructed all 

 his agents to give special attention to packages of 

 flowers having a mark consisting of a white label. 

 4 by 6 inches, bearing the word " perishable," in red 

 letters and a large red leaf covering nearly its en- 

 tire surface. They are to be kept right side up, 

 and as nearly as. possible, at a moderate tempera- 

 ture. They are also to be delivered promptly. 

 When refused by consignees, the shipper is to be 

 notified by telegraph and asked for instructions. So 

 says the Prairie Farmer. 



Buds have scales only in cold climates. 

 Nature makes the useful, the beautiful. 

 Plant leaves are arranged in a definite order. 

 Decay in the wood affects the quality of the fruit. 

 In hot climates deciduous trees lose their leaves 

 in the dry season. 



Many evergreens have leaves only of annual dura- 

 tion: the old ones <lrop after the new crop appears. 

 The marvelous stories about grain growing, that 

 has laid in the hands of mumnues for thousands of 

 years, are without foundation. 



A Warning. The conunon thistle plant is found 

 to contain an average of Cri.iKK) seeds, and the bur- 

 dock :jH.(i<X). Jlany other weeils are quite as prolific. 

 Linnseus, the greatest of naturalists, whose life, 

 at an advanced age, closed nearly a century ago, 

 had several American correspondents, one of which 

 was His Excellency Cadwaller Colden, Governor of 

 New York. 



Young botanists may find interest in studying 

 the ovary or seed vessel of the Mignonette. Curi- 

 ously enough this is open from the first, and as it 

 develops, the seeds become exposed to the sight 

 long before they .are ripe 



Young trees produce larger and more .iuicy fniit 

 than old ones, because the materials whicli enter 

 into the fruit are conducted through shorter and 

 more open courses. But the fruit of old trees is 

 richer and higher flavored. 



Binomial nomenclature, that is, where each 

 species is indicated by two names, the one standing 

 forthe genus, the other for the species, is a great im- 

 provement over the older method of distinguishing 

 each one by explanatory phrases. For example, 

 rialamnina was a hundred years ago known as 

 riula fiiliix ri,nlati.'< obliDigis. pedunenlli fere 

 racliratis. 



Botany for Young People. Interesting as the 

 study of botany is to all. it is particularly so to 

 youiig people, as it appeals to their natural curiosity 

 I and their desire of knowing about things. The 

 study of iilants and flowers first, by the young, and 

 : then aftei-wards of the other natural sciences, is 

 one of the most profitable, as well as interesting, 

 trainings young minds can be put to. It would be 

 an advantage to have this study begin even before 

 that of language. 



The Smallest House Plant. Our studious friend, 

 Mr. C. D. Zinunerman. of this city, .says that the 

 Yeast Plant is the smallest cultivated house plant, 

 and no doulit he is right about it. To " make Yeast" 

 '. as the bakers say. is in his estimation as absurd as 

 i to talk of making Geranium plants or Maple trees. 

 Yeasf inci-eases by growth ; when in bread-baking 

 the " Sponge " is set in properly sifted and warmed 

 flour, aud kept at a temperature of about «0°, the 

 Yeast multiplies very rapidly and in a short time 

 is sufficiently strong for the dough if is intended for. 

 Horticulture and Botany. Says the L-IIIu.'^tra- 

 tiun HurHnilv: The progri ss of horticulture, had it 

 need of proof, would find one in the development 

 of the botanical gardens everywhere, and in the 

 greenhouses established in these institutions. The 

 Jardin dis Plantes. at Paris, has a new winter gar- 

 den. The houses of the garden of Glasnevin have 

 been renovated and made larger. The botanical 

 institution of Liege has attained vast proportiors. 

 The greenhouses of the botanical garden of Gi'efs- 

 wald. under the direction of Dr. Edm. Goeze, have 

 been rebuilt, and now in turn those of Tubingue: 

 the Legislative Chamber of Wurtemburg has voted 



18.3,000 marks to this purpose. We also learn that 

 there will be tour iron frame houses in the botanical 

 garden of Bnmswig. The enlargement of the fern 

 house in the gardens of Brussels is just completed. 

 Plant Life in the Arctics.-During this short sum- 

 mer, the plant life of the -\rcfics grows very rapidly 

 under the constant stimulus of an ever-shining 

 sun; and before the snow is oft the ground, flowers 

 will be in bloom so near the banks of snow that, 

 with the foot, they may he bent over against them. 

 The vitality in these hardy Arctic plants appears 

 phenomenal, and they almost seem endowed with 

 intelligence in knowing what a brief time they are 

 allowed to spring up. blossom and bear seed They 

 commence early, and hold tenaciously on to all 

 their growth after plants which we are used to 

 seeing, would be prone upon the ground. Midden- 

 dort has seen an Arctic Rhododendron, in Siberia, m 

 fidl flower all over it. when the roots and the stem 

 were solidly encased in frozen soil as hard as ice. 

 On King Willam's Land, we had four nights in July 

 and thirteen in August, when the thermometer sank 

 to freezing: and yet I picked flowers in bloom, to 

 within the last three days of the latter month.— 

 Lieut. Schwatka, in Independent. 



ABOUT THE PLACE. 



Little wastes cari*y away profits. 

 Tile draining promotes eariiness. 

 Soapsuds should go to the compost pile. 

 A cheap implement is usually a dear implement. 

 Make up your mind to have a lawn mower this 

 year, if you never have had one before. 



Slats across the pig trough, will prevent the 



stronger animals from plow ing away the weaker. 



"I am satisfied a well-fed cow will make from 



her droppings at night iilone, $25 worth of manure 



in a year."— F. C. Furmiin. 



Dr. Holland makes one of his characters say, 

 " The peg (pigi'll ate wot there won't nothing else 

 ate. and thin you can ate the peg." 



A neighbor of ours keeps his milch cow as clean 

 and well-carded as he does his carriage horse. The 

 cow is a picture fo look at. It's the right way. 



Johnson Grass. As to its probable value as a . 

 pasture grass in warm climates. the American Agri- 

 cultnrist says; We have seen this grass growing in 

 Georgia, and were favorably impressed with it. It 

 is a very tall and coarse grass, and would be better 

 for soiling the cows than for pasturage Where 

 manure costs nothing but the transportation, and 

 the land can be irrigated at will, we should advise 

 a trial in the South, not only of Johnson grass 

 iStniiliiim Halepense). but of the " Peiirl Millet" 

 and of the different kinds of Sorghum advertised 

 by seedsmen. 



If there is a lack of trees, shrubs and vines about 

 the place, fake our advice, and before this month is 

 out, order and plant a good assortment of these. 

 Then give the trees some fair care and they will 

 pay for themselves two-fold with every year that 

 comes around. This will be in the actually increased 

 value of your place, in case you wanted fo sell, to 

 say nothing about the increased pleasure and com- 

 fort fo be derived from such a course. Without the 

 beauty and quiet influence which a good showing of 

 trees and shi ubs will produce, your home may be 

 so cheerless and unattractive that no one about it 

 can work with energy, or take pride in it. 



Shade for the Well. More than one advantage 

 comes from it. Trees, or even vines, (the latter 

 supported by trellises), growing near enough to shade 

 the pump, render the water cooler in summer, hence 

 more refreshing fo man and beast, than without it. 

 Then, too. there is more or less waste of water from 

 apiunpiuthe process of drawing it; if there are 

 roofs of trees or vines fo absorb this, it's return to 

 the well, besides an unhealthy moisture in the soil, 

 is in a large measure prevented. Trees and the 

 like grow very fast usually about wells on this ac- 

 coimt. Another consideration is that trees growing 

 near wells, in some degree proride winter shelter 

 for them. So we say at this season, plant trees or 

 vines to shade the wells. 



Early spring weather is very trying to bees; the 

 sunshine of some days alluring them out of the hives, 

 and cold winds chilling and often destroying them 

 in large numbers, before they can get back. At 

 other times the temperature may be so mild that 

 their thght and return may be made without any 

 loss. This, then, is a gain forthe bee.s. Rye meal, 

 placed in shallow boxes in the sun near the hive, 

 win .attract them: and large quantifies will he car- 

 ried back for food for the young brood. Should 

 there be a lack of pollen in the hives, as might be 

 the case, such feeding becomas veiy important. 

 They may also be fed a thin sugar syrup, to stimu- 

 late lireeding. Oflering these near the hives, tends 

 to prevent wide ranging and its perils at this season. 



