82 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



April, 





THE HOUSE PLANTS. r 



Air. The plants have for a long time been with- 

 out an abundance of fresh air; admit it freely to 

 them; set them out doors in warm days, and espec- 

 ially in warm showers, if such there be 



Callas. See answer to Inquiry No 53, on opposite 

 page. The treatment thus given is equivalent to a 

 rest. If kept growing steadily on all summer, their 

 power to blooni next, winter will be impaired. 



Camellias now, more than at any other season, 

 need fret|uent syringing or sponging off. 



Chrysanthemums. Care must be taken that 

 they do not get pot-bound; their growth must be 

 constant: for late plants cuttings may still be struck 



Flowers should now be abundant in the windows, 

 If bedding plants are to be bought from the florists, 

 it is well to select some of these n-iw. Keep them 

 in the window for their 

 bloom here until the plant- 

 ing out time is at hand A 

 pretty plan for temporarily 

 covering window Hower 

 pots, especially if they 

 should b» unsightly, is here 

 shown. Sheet cotton bat- 

 tmg is used for the cover, 

 and this is kept in place by 

 two or three ribbon ties. 

 Colored paper is sometimes 

 used instead of the cotton. 



Tuchsias in bloom, aside 

 from needing much water, 

 are benefited by an occa- 

 sional dose of weak Hquid 

 manure. On shifting, see 

 Heliotrope, as follows: ^, j ^ ^ 



Simple method of adorn- 



Heliotrope. The beauty ,■„,,;,,„,, p,. p^,,. see 

 of this plant depends on ..;>,„,,.,,,.^. .^ 

 never allowing the roots to 



become pot-bound; before this occurs shift. Large 

 shifts suit these plants and some othei-s like Fnch- 

 sias. Cinerarias. Callas, and so on admirably. 



Mignonette should be sown where the plants are 

 wanted, whether in pots or in the garden, as few 

 kinds of flowers transplant so poorly. 



Oleanders of small size do better for being bedded 

 out fur the summer, taking them from the pots. 



Petunias. If old plants have grown unshapely, 

 a thorough cutting in now will improve them much 

 in the course of six weeks or two months. 



Propagation may now be going on with many 

 kinds of plants for stock to bloom next winter. 



Start up the dormant Dahlia. Canna, Richardia 

 and Caladium tubers that have been kept over. 



LAWN AND FLOWER GARDEN. 



Annuals. This month is the time ftn- early sow- 

 ings, over a large range of our countiy. We prefer 

 sowing in drills, to sowing broadcast. Drills about 

 an inch deep should be opened in which the seed 

 should be scattered quite thickly. A covering of 

 fine earth should follow; it is a good plan to use 

 some light mould that has been sifted for this 

 purpose. Spat down the covering afterwards with 

 the hoe or the back of a spade. 



Half hardy and tender annuals may be started 

 under glass, or in a sunny spot that is sheltered 

 from the wind by buildings, and which may be 

 sheltered by mats or shutters in cool or frosty nights. 



Bedding plants of all kinds are much better off 

 to be in hot-beds for the last six weeks before plant- 

 ing. Then in warm days the glass may be wholly 

 removed, and this will tend directly to the making 

 of strong, robust plants. 



Cold frame and pot plants should at this season 

 be hardened off by full exposure. 



Evergreens may be planted some weeks later 

 than is well for deciduous trees. They should be 

 pnmed at transplanting, the same as any other 

 kinds. For general pruning, this is the best season. 



Hardy Bulbs Beds of these should in all cases 

 be lightly raUcd over before the plants appear. 



Hedges may now receive their annual pruning. 



In staking trees bind them fast by means of a 

 strip of duck or leather, i-ather than with a cord. 

 A piece of such material brought around the tree 

 and crossed on top of the stake, di'iving one or two 

 nails through into the stake, is all that is needed. 



Lobelia— the blue kind— as a bedding plant af- 

 fords a rare color, but it does not remain handsome 

 very long. It should be managed by getting up 

 successive propagations, replacing the plants in the 

 beds about every two months. Propagate by divis- 

 ion, slips or by sowing the seed. 



Lawn. The directions of last month followed 

 out in the spring, and httle needs be done to a lawn 

 all during the season, except to mow whenever the 

 grass gets to be one or two inches high. Mow 

 carefully, that no uncut strips will ever be seen, 

 and attend to having the gauge wheels elevated 

 alike on both sides. See Weeds. 



Lilies, if to be planted, should have this done 

 early. Fall is a better time, excepting for the old 

 Candidum, which should be transplanted in August. 



Roses. Plant hardy ones as early as they can be 

 procui-ed, and the soil is fit to receive them. 



Street trees should not be planted unless pro- 

 tected against the gnawing of horses, (they some- 

 times do great damage), by some kind of a guard. 

 Those made of slats are better than such as are 

 made of boards, for injurious insects find a safe re- 

 treat behind the latter. We notice by their cata- 

 logue, that J. R. & A. Murdoch of Pittsburgh, Pa., 

 make and sell a circular tree guard of pickets, 

 which we think so well of, that we have taken the 

 Hlierty ot reproducing it in an engraving. 



Tender Bulbs. SuchasCannas,Caladiums, Dahl- 

 ias, etc., ought to be starting and getting into shape 

 for planting. Have your supply of Gladiolus, 

 Tiger Flower, Tuberoses, etc., ready for putting out 

 as soon as warm. Some authorities recommend 

 doing early planting for Tuberoses, saying that 

 they pi-oduce more and larger flowers if started while 

 the soil is cool. 



"Weeds have no place in a well-kept garden. 

 Some kinds, like the Shepherd's Purse, Chickweed, 

 and so on start up, fiower and seed very early; 

 they should be speedily destroyed as soon as seen. 

 Dandelions. Plantains, etc.. make themselves at 

 home in lawns if allowed to, giving them an infer- 

 ior look. Remedy: Cut them out with a short, 

 strong-bladed knife, just below the crown. 



sufficient or poor soil, their vigor and beauty will be 

 much impaired. Use clean pots always; the reason 

 why plants do better in new pots, is because the 

 pores are unclogged, hence air has ready access to 

 the roots, and this is wanted. Thoroughly washed 

 old pots have a nearly similar good effect on them. 



Stove Plants. Rapid growers among these, such 

 as Gesnerias, Gloxinias and the like should now most 

 hkely be shifted ; if given bottom heat directly after- 

 wards it will be a great help. 



Verbenas propagated the fore part of April will 

 be early enough for making good bedding plants. 



FRUIT GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 



Berries. Plant Raspberries in rows 4 feet apart 

 and 3 feet in the row. Blackberries in rows, 8 

 feet apart, and 3 feet in the row. Strawberries may 

 be set in rows 3 feet apart, and 12 inches in the row. 

 The soil should be fertile, but good cultivation 

 counts better than much manure for all of them. 



Currants would give better satisfaction if not so 

 generally slighted. They repay very Uberally for 

 manuring and fair care. 



Cuttings. See last month's paper under this head. 



Grapes. In planting young vines cutback to two 

 eyes. 



Insects, See last month's paper under this head. 



Manures. Wood ashes, where available, are the 

 cheapest fertilizer for fiiiit trees. In their absence, 

 bone manure three parts, and Muriate of Potash 

 (German Salts) of high grade, one part, make a 

 superior article, having the strong endorsement of 

 the Massachusetts Agricultiu-al College. 



Old Orchards should be manured and plowed, 

 using lime and ashes. 



Strawberries covered last fall should have the 

 cover drawn apart where the plants are. 



Trees, as soon as they arrive from the nursery, 

 should be heeled in by the roots, until wanted one 

 by one for planting. Should, however, any be re- 

 ceived in a shriveled up condition, bury the whole 

 tree in the ground for several days, until plumpness 

 is restored. If they become frozen e7i route, do not 

 unpack while in this condition, but place the pack- 

 age in a cool cellar that they may thaw gradually. 



PLANT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



Achyrantlies for good color need heat and light. 



Alt em anther as are a fine class of bedding plants, 

 well adapted to our hot summers. By dividing the 

 stock on hand up in pieces so small that but each 

 one has a bit of root, potting separately and set in 

 a close frame rarely admitting air (they love high 

 heat), each one will make a fine plant for bedding 

 out in six or eight weeks. 



Annuals sown early must not get crowded ; trans- 

 plant or thin out; straggling ones should be topped. 



Azaleas after flowering should be shifted, and 

 when the growth of the season is pretty well over 

 should receive an increase of air. Water and 

 syringe freely. 



Carnations, if given a top dressing now, will re- 

 pay the trouble by a great increase of bloom later. 



Climbers for summer, like German Ivy, Mauran- 

 dya. etc., will be the better for cutting back now. 



Crowding at this season is a common foe to the 

 well-doing of plants. Make hot-beds or frames to 

 accommodate the overplus untU planting out time. 



Cuttings lately put in sand should be frequently 

 examineil, and immediately that roots, however 

 small, are present, they shoiUd go into pots. 



Fall Plants. Propagate for fall use, Alyssura, 

 Heliotrope and any other plants thus needed. 



Ferns. Shift or renew the soil of those in pots; 

 in doing so break up the old outside roots some- 

 what . 



Ivy Geraniums if cut back at once wUl get into 

 fine sliape for summer use by June 1st. 



Orchids. At this season keep up the moisture by 

 sprinkling the paths and shutting up early. Any 

 plants requu'ing repotting nnust be attended to as 

 soon as in a growing state. Shade from the sun as 

 directed under " Shade." 



Koses *"e liable to be troubled with fly now; fumi- 

 gation is the simple and safe remedy. 



Shade lightly with whitewash or with naptha and 

 whitelead over Cameflias. Azaleas, Fuchsias, Double 

 Primroses, Caladiums, Callas, Fancy Coleus and 

 Geraniums, Ferns and other plants liable to spot. 

 Sometimes a blister in the glass will cause a streak 

 or spot. Spy it out and paint on the under side. 



Shift all subjects as they require more root room, 

 for if active plants have their roots confined to in- 





H\ 



VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



Asparagus, The time to cut is when the shoots 

 are C to 8 inches long Careless cutting spoils many 

 stocks. Use a knife with 

 a pointed blade and cut 

 with the point, so as not to 

 injure any other shoots 

 that are out of sight. 



Beets are better sown in 

 well dug soil without much 

 manure. They then make 

 small, handsome well-color- 

 ed roots, such as are most 

 desirable. 



Cauliflowers, A good 

 crop can be looked for only 

 on ground that is well en- 

 riched before planting. 



Celery, for main crop, 

 should be sown early in 

 April, in a nicely prepared 

 seed bed in the open ground 



Culture. Keep the soil 

 between plants and drill 

 rows frequently stirred to 

 free them from weeds. 



Hot-beds, Give plenty 

 of air in the day time ; keep 

 close at night using mats, 

 also when frost or wmd 

 threatens. For watei-ing 

 at this sea.son use water 

 with the chill taken off. 



Onions. Use manure 

 freely, or a good crop need 

 not be expected. When 

 large enough to weed, a 

 good top-dressing of wood 

 ashes will help the crop. 



Parsley may be sowed 

 thinly in drills and then if 

 covered with tiles or stones 

 for about ten days, the seed 

 will begin to showitaelf , in- 

 stead of its taking as com- 

 monly, several weeks for its A circiiUir Guard for 

 germination. Street Trees. 



Fleas on Plants, Watch the Turnip and Cab- 

 bage plants for these pests, and as soon as they 

 show themselves dust with soot, wood ashes or air- 

 slacked Imie, going over the plants repeatedly. 



S 



11 



