ii8 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



July, 



We may make our country, from its native re- 

 sources, the glory of ail lands for the beauty aud 

 vaUie of its trees. It is your privilege, while engaged 

 in a business which will give you reasonable pecu- 

 niarj- returns, to be also public benefactors. It is 

 your privilege to do as much as any other class of 

 men in determining what shall lie the future condi- 

 tion of the country as to its industries and the com- 

 fort and happiness of its people. 



On Thursday the following officers for the 

 coming j'ear were elected : 



President, C. L. Watrous, Iowa; first vice- 

 president, M. A. Hunt, Illinois; secretary, D.W. 

 Scott, Illinois; treasurer, A. R. Whitney. Ex- 

 ecutive coramitte, S. D. Willard, New York, 

 N. B. Pearsall, Kansas, aud Cleorge Weltz, 

 Oliio. The report was adopted and the officers 

 nominated were elected. 



The vice-presidents also reported in favor of 

 Chicago as the place for the next meeting, and 

 the report was adopted 



A resolution was adopted by a large vote 

 asking Congi'css to pass a law taxing oleomar- 

 garine. Much time was also consumed in hear- 

 ing reports concerning trade matters. 



One of the ablest papers of the meeting was 

 that by Dr. Fenio, on the Influences Affecting 

 the Quality of Tree Seed, and in which he 

 urged the merits of seed testing establishments. 



The chief feature of Friday's meeting was an 

 excursion to Mount Vernon, by steamer down 

 the Potomac river. It was participated in by 

 nearly the entire convention. 



Convention Notes. 



An ideal city, so far as shade trees go. 



The Botanical Garden had many visitors. 



The nurserymen feel good over spring sales. 



Presidents come and go, but Secretary Scott 

 remains. 



The Lucretia Dewberry was on exhibition by Mr. 

 Albaugh. 



Most of the members found the weather cooler 

 than they had left behind them. 



Friend Augur gave everybody alasteof the Jewell 

 Strawbeny. They were Jewels. 



President Coleman reports Hi>,()(X> shade trees in 

 Washington. They were a delight to the visitors. 



The convention was photographed in a body on 

 Thursday, iu front of the Agricultural Building. 

 Nice picture. 



The hearty invitation to have the next meeting at 

 Dallas, Texas, seemed at one time as likely to be 

 accepted. The Texas members gave some interest- 

 ing talk about their great State. 



We found our old neighbor. President Cleveland. 

 looking well, although less ruddj' of cheek than 

 when be lived in BulTalo. He showed his apprecia- 

 tion of horticulture by granting a special reception 

 on Thursday afternoon to the nureerymen. ladies 

 included. Shaking some 3(Xl hands didn't seem to 

 tire him much. 



At an adjunct meeting of the Nursery-men's Pro- 

 tective Association the following ofiieere were 

 elected: C. L. Watrous, president: G. C Atwood, 

 New York, vice-president ; D. Willmot Scott, secre- 

 tary; A. R. Whitney, treasurer, and Messrs. Abner 

 Hoopes, Pennsylvania; S. D. Bear, Ohio; C. L. 

 Watrous, Iowa, the executive board 



The Convention enjoyed a good laugh at the close 

 of Congressman Wellborn's eloquent speech on the 

 present and future of Texas as a fruit growing 

 country. He had finished his warm peroration of 

 brillant hues, and was walking down the aisle with 

 Mr. Dewey's hat in his hand, when Commissioner 

 Coleman called out " please don't carry away our 

 members" hats." This brought down the house. 

 And when Mr. Wellborn explained that such a little 

 thing as appropriating another man's property 

 were peculiarities of his own, not belonging to Texas 

 people at large, the house came down again. 



The Fruit and Vegetable Growers' 

 Association of the United States. 



The June meeting of this society was held on 

 the 17th of last month, at Columbus, Ohio. 

 It was an interesting meeting and succeeded in 

 accomplishing much good. The leading dis- 

 cussions centered on the best methods of pre- 

 paring fruit for market, and preserving it for 

 family use. The evaporation of fruit received 

 its full share of attention. 



A happy sequel to this diseussson was the 

 generous offer of Mr. Ezra Arnold, an Illinois 

 fruit grower, to give to the society the plans 

 and details of his improved yet inexpensive 

 home made fruit evaporator. He does not 

 make these for sale, but freely consigns to the 

 association and to all interested persons the 

 full right to make and use them, on the one con- 

 dition, that the association will give his offer 

 publicity. This it resolvefl to do, and to pre- 

 pare the necessary engravings and descriptions 

 to enable any person to make and set up the 

 device. Full particulars with plans may be 

 had of the secretary, W. Orlandc Smith, Alli- 

 ance, O. ,by enclosing stamps for return postage. 



The next meeting of the association will take 

 place at St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 9th next. 



Second Annual Meeting of the So- 

 ciety of American Florists. 



This meeting will be held in Philadelphia 

 Aug. ISth to *20tli next. It promises to be a 

 gi'eat success, in that respect even an improve- 

 ment on the excellent first meeting of lastyeai-. 

 It will be a gathering of the live florists of our 

 land ; all such are expect-ed to be there. Re- 

 duced rates on all the leading railroads may be 

 secured. Secretai'yE. G. Hill, Richmond, Ind., 

 will take pleasure in furnishing full particulars 

 to mail api>li cants. 



tropes, RosesandMyosotis. ought now to be growing 

 rapidly, and will require pinching back every few 

 weeks to promote stocky forms Such as are in 

 pots should be shifted into pots one size larger as 

 soon as the roots mat about the ball of earth. 



THE HOUSE PLANTS. 



Abutilons or Flowering Maples should now be en- 

 couraged by repotting as they will bear, to make a 

 strong growth for sustaining winter flowering. 

 Pnnie freely to promote shapeliness. 



Agapanthua Plants need plenty of water while 

 flowering, being by nature sub-aquatic. 



Bouvardias. Cut back closely for the present. 



Cactuses during their flowering and growing 

 period are not apt to be given too much water. 



Cyclamens for flowering next year and later 

 should be sown during the present month. 



Geraniums. Where plenty of winter flowers are 

 wanted, the plants should be grown in pots during 

 the summer; also, keep all flower buds nipped out 

 as they appear. The Rose and most other kinds 

 can be brought along finely fur house decoration 

 later, by lifting some from the border some time 

 this month and potting them. Pinch back the main 

 shoots a little at the same time. 



Hydrangeas in bloom are benefited by an occas- 

 ional dose of manure water. Young plants in their 

 first year like partial shade in the summer. 



Insects. As to these, one should put prevention 

 before cure. Aid plant health by proper water- 

 ing, cleansing the foliage, removing dead leaves 

 and matured flowers, and repotting as geeded. and 

 insects will not trouble much. If any stragglers 

 appear, apply the thumb nail. 



Lantanas embody a number of good qualities as 

 pot-plants. They may easily be grown as standards, 

 with a trunk three or more feet high, by keeping 

 all side shoots down during the season of growth, 

 and until a desirable height is reached 



Mignonette Seed, if not yet started for winter 

 plants, must now go in. See under "Conservatory." 



Oxalis Kosea and other varieties should receive 

 less watei- than when they were flowering freely. 



Primroses, Double Chinese. Tlie treatment now 

 needed is merely that they be kept in a cool shady 

 place, and water as required, that is. sparingly. 



Vallotas now begin to bloom. While this is going 

 on they should be kept constantly well watered. 



"Watering cannot now be neglected once without 

 serious results. The best time of the day to water 

 in the summer is towards night. Then the plants 

 have moisture and coolness until morning. But if 

 plants happen to be drj- in the morning, don't wait 

 for evening but water immediately. 



Winter -flowering plants, such as Begonias, 

 Chrysanthemums, Carnations, Pomsettias, Helio- 



LAWN AND FLOWER GARDEN. 



Annual Flowers now come in. It is a mistake 

 to allow the plants to become crowded. Thinned 

 out properly, and many kinds that often appear no 

 better than weeds develop into handsome plants. 



Asters are gross feeders. If this fact was not 

 duly appreciated when the beds were prepared, 

 matters may still be helped by liquid manuring or 

 a manure mulch. 



Balsams should be pruned of many of the young 

 shoots that now appear; train to one, three or more 

 main shoots and their appearance will be improved. 



Candytuft, if sown during this month in frames, 

 will produce heavy crops of blooms just after the 

 open air yield is cut off by frosts. 



Carpet Beds are now in full dress, and to keep 

 them so through the hot weather they need a 

 thorough watering once a week, and all useless 

 flowers, as well as unhealthy leaves and weeds, 

 should be removed as often Some of the plants 

 will need trimming also, to regulate shape. 



Caterpillars may be kept from ascending trees 

 by encircling these with bands of cotton. 



Climbers now push ahead rapidly, and should 

 be anijily furnished with supports for the young 

 shoots, and have the growth regulated. 



Dahlias that produce many side shoots are bene- 

 fited by liavmg some of these cut out. 



Layering is a means of propagation that every 

 amateur ought to be familiar with. By it about all 

 fine shrubs and plants can easily be increased, 

 while many cannot be propagated in any other 

 way. As shown by the cut, a depression is made 

 in the earth at one side of the plant in which to 

 bend a vigorous shoot. This shoot should have a 

 notch cut in from the top. one-third of the way 

 through at the lowest point of the bend. Bend it 

 down and cover firmly with mellow earth. In 

 about two months there ought to be good roots. 



Pansies Sow now for earlj- spring or forcing. 



Perennials, Hardy. If it is desirable to in- 

 crease such kinds as ripen their seeds this month 

 the seed may be sown as soon as ripe. Those that 

 are through flowering should have their flower 

 stalks ciU away soon after for the sake of neatness. 



Rhododendrons. Remove seed pods and sprouts. 



Staking and Tying up are important operations 

 to keeping a handsome garden. Strong- growing, 

 top-heavy plants like Dahlias. Gladiolus and Salvias 

 absolutely demand it for the best results. Large 

 single specimen plants, such as Hydrangeas, 

 Geraniums, etc., ma}' be staked so neatly by lower- 

 ing the top of the stake down into the plant, that 

 these will not show and yet obviate all danger from 

 breaking off or bending over by storms. 



Sweet Williams and other biennials should be 

 sown for next year's blooming. 



Trees that were planted in the spring often suffer 

 from drouth in the summer. A mulch of hay. litter 

 or stones over the roots is good treatment to pre- 

 vent this, and better than excessive watering. 



Variegated Trees or 

 Shrubs, or those with 

 cut or other "fancy" 

 forms of leaves which 

 may show signs of a 

 common type of foliage 

 should have the shoots 

 on which these appear 

 cut out, or the future 

 value will be iu danger. 



Watering. Apply- 

 ing a little water and 

 often to anything grow- 

 ing in the soil is a bad Propagation by Layering. 

 principle, and should ^i'^" Layering:' above. 

 be set aside for the correct one of watering seldom 

 but then very thoroughly. Vases and hanging 

 baskets have many plants growing in a small 

 bulk of earth; water thoroughly everj' day. The 

 best time for watering trees is during a showeiy 

 spell. Remember here that ordinarj- showers do 

 trees but little good. 



PLANT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



Camellias. Now the buds of next winter's 

 flowers are formed, and any bad treatment to the 

 plants may cause these to drop before opening, as 

 explained last month. 



Keep the Camellia apartment cool by shading, 

 sprinkling and free-airing. Water regularly and 



