124 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



August, 



iu my estimation, for I prize this tree greatly. 

 The lai-gest specimen of its liind with which I 

 am acquainted is here. It is nearly thirty-five 

 feet high, being as tall but less dense of head 

 than some other kinds of Horse-chestnuts plant- 

 ed at the same time. While the Double-flower- 

 ing one, also referred to, makes a fine tree, the 

 color of the bloom is similar to that of the white, 

 hence barely more ornamental. But the rich 

 crimson spikes of the red are most striking in 

 any collection of trees, and so handsome that 

 on this account the tree should be much planted. 

 It may be added that being difficult to propa- 

 gate it is always disposed to be scarce, even at 

 the nurseries, but it can be procured. 



Small Greenhouses for Amateurs. 



It is just one hundred years ago almost to a 

 day since Cowper wrote the familiar line: 



" Who loves a garden, loves a greenhouse too." 



That which was time 

 in his day is quite as 

 true now. Still we 

 may meet a hundred 

 gardens whose every 

 plant, shrub and tree 

 tells of the owner's in- 

 tense love of these 

 things before we meet 

 one amateur's green- 

 house. 



Now the state of 

 things last referred to 

 is not without cause. 

 In the first place, 

 everyone knows that 

 the erecting of a com- 

 plete g!"eenhouse, how- 

 ever small, calls for 

 something of an out- 

 lay. There nmst be a 

 substantial structure, 

 equipped with heating 

 apparatus that is safe 

 and efficient for with- 

 standing the severest 

 cold and storms, and 



ventilating apparatus to supply fresh air when 

 needed, the latter snugly enough fitting to keep 

 out cold air when not needed. These things 

 reijuire good calculation and careful workman- 

 ship from the outset, both of which are not 

 the easiest or cheapest things to be secured 

 in this world. 



Then, while many who love a greenhouse 

 might not mind the expense of erecting a suit- 

 able structure for growing plants, they would 

 perhaps lack confidence in their ability to man- 

 age one, even if small. To employ a skillful 

 florist and gardener, would be to go to a con- 

 siderable and continued expense. Without a 

 florist, to fail in one's own management from 

 inexperience, would l>e a sore aggravation after 

 the outlay for building had been incurred. 



But while it is proper to keep in view the 

 darkei' side even this may be made to assume 

 ciuite a bright appearance. In the first place, 

 it is a plea.sure to note .the fact that, through 

 recognizing this wide love of gi'eenhouses, a 

 good deal of attention is in this day being given 

 by horticultural builders, to the matter of con- 

 servatories for amateurs that shall embody a 

 maximum of advantages at mininmm cost. 

 We are enabled herewith to present, by the 

 courtesy of Mr. Josephus Plenty, the green- 

 house builder of New York, several figures of 

 one such a conservatory that he is now manu- 

 facturing and selling, all equipped for plant 

 growing, at the very moderate figure of ll.")!). 

 This is for a house eight by twelve feet in size, 

 heated by a kerosene oil furnace and hot water 

 pipes, and complete in every detail except the 

 brick work. 



This house is designed to lie attached to the 

 dwelling, just as everyone would want such a 

 .structure situated. It has a capacity of over 

 TOO 4-inch pots, a sufficient quantity to suit the 

 average amateur. The buildings are first put 



up with screws and bolts at the factory, and 

 then when ordered are taken down, the parts 

 numl)ered and securely packed, and forwarded 

 with directions foi' setting uj) again. A cata- 

 logue giving further particulars may, on ap- 

 plication, be obtained from Mr. Plenty. 



Mr. Plenty's cheap conservatory may not 

 be the only one of a similar kind made. We 

 know that small conservatories are often 

 built by others than regular greenhouse build- 

 ers. Still it seems to us there must be real 

 advantages both to Mr. Plenty Snd to the pub- 

 lic by their dealing together. For one thing is 

 certain, a builder can construct fifty such 

 houses all alike at a much lower price for each 

 than he could if building only one. On the 

 other hand, one of the fifty no doubt would bet- 

 ter answer the purposes of the plant grower 

 than the one of special make, costing a great 

 deal more money very likely. 



As for managing a small well-equipped 



white, yellow, rose, vermillion and maroon. 

 Even purple and blue tints are to be had at last, 

 in the exquisite new introductions. The genus 

 is truly wonderful in its large blooms, richness 

 of coloring and fine habit. 



To produce the best results in Amaryllis cul- 

 ture the bulbs should be grown in rich fibrous 

 loam, with one-fourth leaf mould, and plenty 

 of well decomposed cow manure. The bulbs 

 should be started in heat, and be given careful 

 attention as to their ripening. W^hen through 

 flowering, diminish the supply of water grad- 

 ually and avoid shrivelling the leaves. A mod- 

 erate collection of the bulbs will give a succes- 

 sion of flowers the whole year round. TVhen 

 resting they require but little space, and should 

 be kept in a dry, cool place. Amaryllis flourish 

 in a fernery and here give splendid effect. 



Some Dutch nurserymen ofl'er a liundred or 

 more varieties and species of Amaryllis, some 

 of which are very costly. The amateur will 

 derive a lai*ge amount 

 of pleasure in growing 

 Amaryllis from seed. 

 A cross, using A . John- 

 soiiii f/randi/tora or 

 Prince of Orange for 

 the seed plant, with 

 some white vai'iety, 

 will give splendid seed- 

 lings as good as can be 

 bought at prices any- 

 where from $.') to $.50 

 per bulb. 



W. F. L. 



FIG. 1.— A $150 GREENHOUSE FOR AMATEURS, AS SEEN FROM THE GARDEN. 



greenhouse, this is not so hard a matter as 

 many suppose. There are no mysteries con- 

 nected with the task. Any ardent lover who 

 can manage a collection of house plants well 

 should succeed betti^r still with a small conser- 

 vatory, for in the latter case the difficulties are 

 decidedly less and the advantages many moie. 

 The selection of plants would be enlarged upon, 

 but reading and practice will teach foi' this. The 

 fact that Popular Gardening gives some 

 practical notes each month on " Plant Culture 

 Under Glass" may also be considered. 



And then think of the charm of many healthy 

 plants, beautiful in leaf and flower, that the at- 

 tached conservatory may place within eye- 

 reach of the sitting room or parlor the year 

 round. The wind may blow cold and bleak 

 outside — a step from your room brings the de- 

 light of fresh, clean, vigorous plants and flowers, 

 restful to the eye, refreshing to the nose, 

 and in such condition as never can be fully 

 found outside of the greenhouse. 



We look upon the builders of cheap and effi- 

 cient conservatories for amateurs as real public 

 benefactors, We hope thej' will not lack of 

 the good patronage which they deserve. 



The Amaryllis. 



To name a finer genus of bulbous flowering 

 plants than the Amaryllis is not easy. They 

 throw up spikes from one to four feet high, sur- 

 mounted mostly by trumpet-shaped blooms of 

 largely varying sizes, some being nearly a foot 

 wide when fully expanded. 



The Amaryllis are very desirable plants for 

 pot culture. The colors of the flowers are di- 

 verse and striking — rich yellows, flaked and 

 spotted, pure whites lined and flushed with 

 yellow, light rose, dark red and purple. Be- 

 side there are the fine Selfs, nearly pure, of 



About Ripening 

 Pears. 



There is this peculi- 

 arity about pears, that 

 if picked liefore full 

 niatuiity and ripened 

 in the lioiise the flavor 

 will lie much finer and 

 the ;q)pearance better. 

 Gathering the fruit, of 

 summer kinds especi- 

 ally, when it is hai-d, and ripening it away 

 from the tree, tends also to prevent rotting 

 at the core, a trouble that is not uiu'ommon. 

 On this subiect we find the following good 

 hints in the A'. /?. Fariiirr: 



To have pears in perfection they should be 

 picked when the early specimens begin to drop 

 from the tree rather freely, or some ten days 

 before the main crop would fall. They should 

 be free from rain or dew, and be handled very 

 carefully. A bruised spot soon rots. Place in 

 shallow boxes ; bureau drawers are excellent, 

 with woolen cloth on the bottom and more 

 cloth on top. Large quantities maj' be ripened 

 between woolen blankets .spread upon the floor 

 of closed rooms and the Pears spiead thinly out. 

 If it is desirable to have the ripening process 

 retarded the coldest room should be selected, 

 if wanted tor early the room should be warmer. 

 Pears treated in this way will ripen up in 

 perfection. The .juices will be retained and a 

 rich, buttery, melting morsel be the result. 

 Some kinds that aie coarse, puckering or mealy, 

 when left to ripen ou the trees, are quite eat- 

 able if allowed to ripen in a closed box or 

 drawer. The Bartlett will ripen if picked be- 

 fore it is fully grown. 



A villager having Pear trees with fruit upon 

 them fully grown, has pooi- ground for com- 

 plaint if he leaves it hanging upon the boughs 

 a constant source of temptation to street lioys, 

 for it will be all the better if gathered early. 



Bees Injuring Fruit. 



A writer to the Hrc-Kct'in't-s' Mtu/tt.^inc re- 

 ports on a test he made as to this matt«r last 

 year. He built an enclosure of wire cloth and 

 screen doors, into which he removed three 

 colonies of bees, first transfering them into 

 empty hives. Then he placed all ordinary 



