i8S6. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



107 



Winter blooming plants in pots or that are 

 liedded out, such as Carnations, Bouvardias. Helio- 

 trope. Poinsettia, Stevias, Chrysanthemums, etc , 



Early CluMer Cucumber. Lonq Greru Cucumber. 



should now, in their early ^owth, be pinched freely, 

 to induce shapely, well-branched forms. 



FRUIT GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 



Blackberries, stop the young canes at four or 

 five feet high- Keep them tied to stakes. 



Currants. Directions for keeping down the Worm 

 were given on page 95. As the new growth appeai-s 

 it is well to remove a portion of the shoots. If 

 there is fruit to be marketed, try the sale of some 

 in a green state, instead of waiting for all to ripen. 



Grafts of recent setting will need looking after, 

 that no supertluous young shoots be drawing nour- 

 ishment that should go to the former. 



Grape Vines. Newly-set ones should be allowed 

 to grow but one shoot, for the future value of the 

 plant will depend much on this. Over-bearing is a 

 great injury to young plants first coming in; two 

 bimches to each cane should be enough. Remove 

 all shoots of older vines that do not show at least 

 two good Vmnehes. Keep carefully tied to the trel- 

 lis. For mildew apply flowers of sulphur. 



Insects. See under this head in May. 



Feach Grubs should be sought out at this season. 

 Gum exuding at the root, and excrement, is a sign 

 of their presence. They may easily be dug out with 

 the use of a knife. Heaping coal or other ashes, 

 or even earth, around the trees a foot high will pre- 

 vent further attacks. 



Raspberries. Treat as directed for Blackberries. 



Slug's on Cherries and Pears are liable to appear 

 this month. They are slimy, dark-colored insects, 

 and work on the upper surface of the leaves. Air- 

 slaked lime, wood ashes, or even dust, strewn over 

 the leaves will kill them Watch for later inroads. 



Strawberries. The satisfaction from the crop 

 will be greater for having the plants mulched be- 

 fore they fruit. Straw or hay answers about the 

 best. Cut the runners as they start if the hill sys- 

 tem is i)racticed. Keep absolutely clear of weeds. 



Thinning Fruit. We believe the average tree 

 will yield more and better fruit if relieved of half 

 the crop, now in its young state. Thinning not only 

 helps for the present, but for the future as well. 



VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



Asparagus cutting should cease with this 

 month, allowing the tops to grow, to aid the proper 

 development of the plants. 



Beans. June is a good planting month; on the 

 farms the rule is to get the field crop of bush Borts 

 in before the 20th. Limas and all others will now 

 start quickly, and twiners should have their poles 

 promptly. Some kinds may need a Uttle help to 

 take the pole. Do not work them when the dew is on. 



Cucumbers. Plants that were started under 

 glass should now go out, and seeds for the main 

 crop be planted- Prepare the hills by mixing a 

 forkful of old rotten manure in each. They may 

 be about four feet apart each way. The Long 

 Green and P^arl}' Cluster varieties shown in the en- 

 graving are favorite ones. The finer the soil the 

 better will be the crop. As fast as the young \ines 

 grow, earth should be drawn up to the stem, to 

 prevent bugs perforating them. When the vines 



begin to spread, by nipping out the ends at the 

 third joint they will branch further back, and by 

 the means give an early and larger crop. 



Celery planting may now begin, re- 

 peating it for succession two or three 

 times, until .July In preparing for the 

 crop bear in mind several things: Slow 

 gi-iiwtli is ruin to it: moisture and an 

 alnunlancc of rotten dung are its great 

 helps The advantage of trench culture 

 is that moisture at the roots in early 

 growth is better secured : hence it is to be 

 recommended for garden culture. The 

 trench need not be more than four inches 

 deep at the start. Work in plentj' of 

 manure, and set the plants about six 

 inches apart; the rows may be three or 

 four feet apart. Apply water to the 

 trencht s at times, if the season is dry. 

 Corn Plant for late all through this month. 

 Egg Flants will now have the weather they 

 need, (iivea rich spot, setting the plants in rows 

 two feet apart and fifteen inches in the row, and 

 follow up with clean culture 



Insects, striped Burjs on Cucumbers and 

 Squashes early begin their work; meet on the 

 j-oung plants by dusting with wood ashes, or with 

 fine fiour of bone, every third day. In bad cases 

 sprinkle the plants first with tobacco water of a 

 color like tea. The Common SquasJt Buff. known 

 at once by its offensive odor when crushed, wUl ap- 

 pear near the end of this month, and needs looking 

 after. By carefully examining the plants while 

 small, the bugs and their eggs may be found and 

 destroyed, thus saving much annoyance later on, if 

 not the crop itself. The Potato Bug, or Colorado 

 Beetle, the great enemj' of the Potato, Egg Plant, 

 etc., must now be dealt with by dusting with Paris 

 Green or London Purple, or else sprinkling with 

 solutions of these. If the Cabbage Worin appears, 

 remove promptly by picking. 



Lettuce f oi* succession or for late crops should be 

 sown where it is to grow; transplanting does not 

 work well for this vegetable in hot weather. 

 Melons. Treat as dh-ected for Cucumbers. 

 Feas. Late sown ones, to succeed at all, should 

 go into trenches as directed for Celery, but water- 

 ing will not be needed unless drouth prevails. 

 Feppers. Treat as directed for Egg Plants. 

 Provide brush for Peas, poles for Beans and 

 trellises foi" Tomatoes, where these yet are lacking. 

 Sow such things as Lettuce, TiUTiips, Parsley. 

 Broad Beans, Radishes. Spinach and Endive. 



Squashes. The bush sorts may be treated as di- 

 rected for Cucumbers, while others will need more 

 space, say eight feet apart each way. Give plenty 

 of manure and fine culture; these are great helps 

 against insects. The space between the plants can 

 be devoted to Lettuce or other early crops. 



Thinning of such sowed crops as Beets, Carrots. 

 Lettuce, Onions. Parsnips, etc. should be attended to. 

 Tomatoes should now be well under way. In 

 garden culture some kind of a trellis, if it be not 

 more than a few sticks laid uji, or a rack made by 

 driving in some stakes slantingly, will give more 

 satisfactory results The fruit ripens better if 

 exposed on all sides to sunshine and light. 



S? 



FRUIT AND VEGETABLES UNDER 

 GLASS. 



Cucumbers in frames require an abundance of 

 water, both over the foliage and at the roots. 



Grapery. Early vines that have ripened their 

 fruit must be carefully brought to a resting condi- 

 tion by gradually witliholding water, and exposing 

 the wood to the sun, and to the air by day and 

 night. Crops ripening need an abundance of heat. 

 In the cold grapery while the vines are in fiower, 

 the temperature may be up to 8.5° or iiO° at midday. 

 Water should just now be largely withheld. When 

 the blossoms are fully out, to give the bunches 

 each a gentle shake will aid the distribution of pol- 

 len. When the berries reach the size of peas a 

 liberal thinning out of them will be helpful. One 

 bunch of fruit is enough to leave to each cane, 

 stojjping this at the third leaf beyond the bunch. 

 Tie up the shouts as the weight of fruit increases. 



Orchard House Trees now need but little atten- 

 tion, beyond the giving of an ample supply of 

 water, and some liquid manure of moderate 

 strength at limes. 



Pineapples require an abundance of moisture in 

 the atnios|>here. to prevent exhaustion during the 

 hot bright weather that now prevails. Close the 

 house early, syringe and water the Hoor freely sev- 

 eral times each day. 



This bfina Ihf People^s I\ipcr it is open to ail tluiir In- 

 quirea, beartiiy on Gartlenint/. 



On tlie other hand, answerit to pubtished inquires are 

 eiirnfHtty requented from readfrn. 



The editors and sp-'ciat contributors are ready to do a 

 larue nhare 0/ the anmccring, but the experience of many 

 being more tfalualtle than of thc/ew, however varied that i», 

 andconditionft and localities being Hodiffertmt. they prefer 

 to receive answers, even several of them to the same oues 

 tion, from readers everywhere. Don't hesitate to uvite 

 because you may feel you are no fine writer; give facts ami 

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

 table shape. 



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

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

 tion unless you desire. M'rite only on one side of the paper 



Flowers will be gladly named provided first, that no more 

 than three besent at one time. Second, that tficse befully 

 prepaid. Third, that sej-eral specimens of each reach us in 

 good shape. We cannot undertake to name florists' varie- 

 ties , 



74.— Geranium. Where can I get a J. G. Blaine 

 (ieraniuni? Will exchange or pay money. Mr.s 

 S. J. ConiuNs, mt. Morri.i, Oyle Co., III. 



To.— Cactus. Will some one please tell me how 

 often a (..'actus must Ije watered to do well? 



T6.-Foliage Plants. Do Foliage Plants require 

 much water? Rose. 



"T.— Carica. Where can I buy the seed or plants 

 of the Melon Tree (Carica papnya)? A. B. 



i8.— Clematis. Please give the mode of propa- 

 gating the hybrid Clematis, whether by grafting 

 layering or from seed ; also, the proper time. 



7" —Dracaena. We have a Dracsena Terminalis 

 that does not seem to thrive, 'niiat shall we do 

 with it to make it growy M C. G. 



SI.— Bermuda Lily. .Should the Bermuda Lily 

 ( Htirrisiit be put in the ground in the spring, after 

 blooming in the house, or dried off and be planted 

 in the fall:- I want it to grow in the ground next 

 yeary E. M. M. 



82.— Hydrangea. Is Hydrangea Hortense grown 

 from seedy F French, Syracu.'ie, N. Y. 



83.— Hyacinth. Will a Hyacinth which has just 

 gone out of Ijloom blossom again this yeary How 

 shall I care for it until its next blooming timey 



84.— Forcing Plants. Will someone please ex- 

 plain about foicing plantsy JIillie Pi'kple. 



85.— Wind-break. What kind of tree would be 

 the best for a wind-break, one that grows fast and 

 thick, and will stand the severest weather? Is the 

 .\ustrian Pine the best y 



81).— Hedges. Is Arbor Vitaj the best for a hedge, 

 and which variety* I want something that grows 

 quickly, is easily kept, and that nothmg can get 

 through. How are Blueberries cultivatedy What 

 kind of soil and manure is besty How deep are 

 they plantedy E. Shelley, Quincy, III. 



REPLIES TO INQUIRIES. 



i».-Sweet Violets. Plant out young plants last 

 of May, on north side of a building, in a rich bed, 

 using some leaf mold or muck Grow until Au- 

 gust : then take off the runners, lift and pot before 

 frost and keep in a cool place, 40° to 5(1°. 



0.).- -Richardia is a summer bloomer 

 or — English Ivy. Cut back and repot, or plant 

 out of doors until fail. James Frost. 



08— Ants are injurious to plants. To get i-id of 

 them take fresh lime, slack it in water enougli to 

 make a got>d whitewash, and let it stand until set- 

 tled, so tbat the water is clejir. Water the plants 

 with the clear liquid and the ants will leave. 



Hi.- Foliage Plants. Some, such as Caladiums, 

 Canuas, and the like, require a great deal of water. 

 Otheis, like Coleus and Amaranthus, etc , onl\- an 

 ordinary amount. 



"— Carica. Martin Benson, Swamvick, III, can 

 perhaps supply the seed, or else tell who can 



78.- Clematis. Layering is the method usually 

 employed in propagating, though grafting may also 

 be used. In this section ,Iuly is the proper tune 

 for layering. 



S-' —Hydrangea. Propagate by cuttings. E E. S. 



The Convention. 

 .\s announced in our last month's issue the 

 Eleventh Annual Convention of the American As- 

 sociation of Xm-serymcn. Florists. Seedsmen and 

 kindred interests, will be held in Washington, D C, 

 June lti-2() next. It promises to be a meeting of 

 more than usual interest— held a,s it will be at the 

 National Capitiil. where so much is to be seen and 

 learned of practical horticulture. Fares reduced 

 to a rate of one and one-third, for the round trip, 

 are being offered by all leading railroads. A 

 refhiction is also being secured in hotel rates There 

 should be a large attendance. For full particulars, 

 address D. Wilmot Scott, Galena, 111. 



