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POPULAR GARDENING. 



August, 



are fine enough to work handsomely into any 

 bouquet. Tlie scarlet large-flowered Flax is just 

 coming in flower from seeds sown the middle 

 of May, but there will be no absence of the 

 richly colored flowers for a long time yet to 

 come. The yellow Bartonia has long been in 

 flower from seeds sown two months ago, and a 

 biishy dum]) of the plants attracts many eyes 

 by its large, bright-yellow single flowers. The 

 mellow yellow and white Escholtzia, or Califor- 

 nian Poppy, is now gay with bloom, aft'ording 

 a most delightful bit of coloring in our medley 

 of flowers. In the same garden may be found 

 flowers of the Mallows, which many look upon 

 as being more attractive than their near rela- 

 tives, the Hollyhocks, of Calliopsis, Calendulas, 

 Lupines, CoUinsias, Crodetias, Centaureas, Cre- 

 pis, and other annuals, all of which have sprung 

 from seed sown since May 1st. Every one of 

 these is attractive here and would prove to be 

 so in any garden. One peculiarity of the class 

 is their cheapness ; two or three dollars' worth 

 would stock a large garden. 



The American Seed Trade Associa- 

 tion's Convention. 



The Fourth Annual Convention of this Asso- 

 ciation will be held at Niagara Falls, N. Y., 

 beginning with Tuesday, August 3, at 1(1 A.M. 

 and continuing for three das's. The place of 

 meeting will be at the Cataract House. It is 

 to be hoped that every member of the Associa- 

 tion realizes the importance of being present at 

 this convention ; indeed, it should be considered 

 the duty of every seedsman to be there. Aside 

 from business consiilerations, all members 

 should feel an interest in visiting and enjoying 

 the scenery of the Falls vicinty, now that it 

 has so largely passed under Stat« control and is 

 already showing many marked improvements. 

 James Y. Murklaud, 54 and .5(i Dey street. New 

 York, is the present Secretary and Treasurer 

 of the Association. 



The Florists' Coming; Meeting at 

 Philadelphia. 



The progranmie and prospectus of this meet^ 

 ing, which is to occur at Philadelphia on the 

 isth, I'.ith and 30th of the present month, 

 has l^een oiit now for some weeks. A copy 

 should at once be called for by every florist in 

 the United States and Canada. Address Secre- 

 tary E, G. Hill, Richmond, Indiana. 



In this progrannne will be found not only a 

 schedule of the numerous valuable essays by 

 competent men, to be read and discussed at the 

 meeting, but it also sets forth about all the in- 

 formation any one might wish for, concerning 

 how to get to Philadelphia, where to stop while 

 there, and so on. For instance, the names of 

 fifty railroads are given that will carrj' for one 

 fare and one-third the round trip all persons 

 attending who have properly signed certificates 

 of attendance. These are procurable from the 

 Secretary free of charge. A list of hotels that 

 offer to accommodate the florists in attendance 

 at reduced rates is also given. 



It is especially desirable that the attendance 

 at this the second meeting of the Society be 

 a very large one. The management hope to 

 see there a good attendance of the women, who 

 now are so generally engaged in the trade. All 

 such will be very welcome. The wives and 

 sisters of members ai"e also cordially invited to 

 be present at this meeting. 



So excellent are all the arrangements of the 

 1S8B meeting that whoever will miss the good 

 things it will have in store can have only 

 themselves to blame. One thing is certain and 

 that is that the large brotherhood of Philadel- 

 phia florists will extend an open and most 

 hearty welcome to all who may come. Be 

 prompt in addressing Secretary Hill at Rich- 

 mond, Ind. , for full particulars, including the 

 certificate of attendance, which must be signed 

 by the ticket agent at the office where the ticket 

 is bought. AU aboard for Philadelphia ! 



THE HOUSE PLANTS. 



Ageratums should be held in cheek as to flower- 

 inj;: if desired for winter blooming. 



Antbericum. The variegated one is an excellent 

 house plant. It requires a good deal of root room, 

 but in potting or stiifting it may have the soil all 

 washed from the roots and, using some fresh soil, 

 be replaced in smaller sized pots tfian without this. 



Aspidistras, the beauty of which is in the leaves, 

 are benefited by applications of a liquid or other 

 fertilizer whUe their leaves are in their best growth. 



Balsams lift easily from the beds now to set into 

 large pots for adorning the window after frosts. 



Begonias of winter blooming varieties showing 

 buds on leading branches should be well pinched 

 back, to induce stockiness and more bloom later. 



Browallias give fair satisfaction as pot plants. 

 The seed should be sown now if not yet in. 



Callas. For early flowers start into free growth 

 by giving rich soil and plenty of water at this time. 



Chrysanthemums. See what Mr. Thorpe says 

 about these elsewhere. If the black aphis or thrip 

 appear sprinkle the affected parts with tobacco 

 dust when the plants are wet. 



Coleus cuttings for winter plants may be struck. 



Eche verias when grown in pots should be watered 

 moderately and have soil not rich but sandy. 



Evergreen plants and shrubs. like Daphne, Olea 

 fragrans, etc., if they need shifting at all before 

 winter should receive it before this month is out. 



Freesias. These deUghtful new bulbs it planted 

 a dozen or more in a large pot or box make choice 

 ornaments for the window garden, and the fragrance 

 is delightfiU. They may be started earlier than the 

 mixed collection of winter flowering bulbs. 



Fuchsias. Old plants of winter blooming sorts, 

 now at rest, may he taken from the pots, cut back 

 within three or four inches of the roots, and if 

 troubled with red spider remove every leaf as well ; 

 wash off the soil and repot in fresh, rich loam, using 

 water sparingly till new growth is well started. 



Petunias. To cut in the straggling branches that 

 come from rapid growth now will lead to nice 

 plants for the window garden by October. 



Propagation of such tropical plants as Cleroden- 

 drou. Ficus. Cissus, Rex Begonias, etc., can be done 

 by the amateur without the aid of a propagating 

 house, more successfully now than at any other 

 time. Place the green cuttings in sand and cover 

 with any glass vessel, watering lightly as needed. 



Roses suitably prepared for winter blooming are 

 at the present anxious to grow and show their early 

 bloom. They must not be over-potted, a great faidt 

 with amateurs. Angle worms often trouble; de- 

 stroy by watering with lime water. 



Tuberose bulbs showing buds at the end of the 

 month may be Utted carefully and made to flower 

 in the house later on. 



Veronica. As this plant's blooming season is 

 near, encourage the setting flower spikes with weak 

 applications of liquid manure. 



Vinca. Divide the roots of this vine, potting 

 what is needed for the house. Doing this thus early 

 the part remaining in the ground has time to recover 

 and become established for the winter. 



LAWN AND FLOWER GARDEN. 



Borers are liable to appear in .\cacias. Mountain 

 Ash and the ornamental flowering fruit trees. 

 They make their attacks in the trunk near the 

 ground chiefly; if the presence of their borings is 

 met dig them out with a knife or stiff pointed wire. 



Cyclamens in beds should now be lifted. 



Edges next to flower beds and walks should be 

 neatly trimmed, once a month at least, by cutting 

 with a sharp spade or better still an edging iron 



Gladiolus. If the spikes from strong bulbs are 

 cut early (they will flower completely out if set in 

 water) it usually follows that some new spikes 

 will later come out. 



Hollyhocks and similar taU plants should be kept 

 tied to stakes to prevent the risk of their being 

 snapped off by violent siunmer gales. 



Layering of Roses, shrubs, etc., may still go on. 



Lifting. As stated last month we favor the early 

 lifting of most plants that are wanted for faU deco- 

 ration. Aim to secure all the roots possible, pot 

 firmly, shade closely for a week and sprinkle the 

 tops several times daily for a spell. 



Plants in tubs or pots set on the lawn, as well as 

 those in vases, need to be watered often and thor- 

 oughly. Do not imagine because the top of the 

 soil of these may be wet that aU is soaked through. 



Boots absorb moisture only when it is in the form 

 of vapor, hence the importance to roots, of a well 

 drained soil penetrable by the air. 



Bock gardens often suffer in summer from 

 drougth, and this should be prevented. Remove the 

 tops of plants that have passed into a ripened state. 



Seed sowing of Perennials and Biennials is 

 timely now. .See longer articles on pages 182 and 12:3. 



Transplanting of White and the few other LUies 

 that are now at rest should be done at this time. 



Hardy bulbs may be moved, but next month will 

 answer quite as well for this. 



Such a high authority as Josiah Hoopes strongly 

 advocates August over spring planting of Ever- 

 greens. Done at this season and new roots soon 

 form, to the advantage of the wintering. The only 

 drawback now is a high temperature, tending to 

 free evaporation, to overcome which transplant on 

 a damp, cloudy day, and afterward the trees should 

 be sprinkled over their tops every evening (or sev- 

 eral weeks. 



Trimming up the flower beds at this season by 

 chpping the plants of formal beds, removmg faded 

 flowers, and stalks of border perennials, and throw- 

 ing out early annuals that are past, will all help 

 much for the good appearance of the garden. 



Verbenas usually show exhaustion now. Cut 

 back the extremities, giving repeated doses of liquid 

 manure, or else strew some f ertUizer over the plants, 

 and they will come around with a fine crop of bloom, 

 and of cuttings for propagation later on. 



Watering lawns is much practised wherever 

 there are good systems of water works. In most 

 cases far more water is applied than is necessary, 

 causing a soaked and unhealthy condition of soU. 

 Mounds and slopes require some extra attention. 



To water trees in lawns freely, is one great secret 

 of having them make a rapid growth. Here there 

 is little danger of watering too much. Water thor- 

 oughly while at it, making apertures with the 

 spading fork over the area of the roots, to readily 

 take in the water. 



Why should people of inteUigence in other mat- 

 ters be so generally ignorant of the names of trees, 

 shrubs and plants, wild and cultivated, in their vi- 

 cinity? It would be a good thing to improve in such 

 respects; the field for improvement is ample. 



PLANT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



Bedding Plants of such kinds as are scarce, or 

 that it may he desirable to get up a large stock of for 

 next year, may have the first cuttings for fall prop- 

 agation put in during this month. 



Camellias will continue to need looking after 

 against dryness at the root. When a plant is found 

 badly wanting water, plunge the pot in a tub for half 

 an hour. While we urge full necessary watering, still 

 the mistake of over-watering must be prevented. 



Carnations to begin bloom about the holidays 

 should be cut back for last time. 



Chrysanthemums in pots now need some special 

 attention. Pompones to be stopped for the last 

 time ; large flowering kinds not to be stopped again. 

 Stake and tie as needed. Plants intended for show 

 should have some of the surface soil removed, to 

 be replaced by some rich half -rotten dung. 



Geraniums for winter bloom should be stopped 

 all over now. Propagation may be begun for plants 

 with which to decorate the house early next spring. 



Greenhouses will never be nearer empty than 

 now. So now let them be put into thorough 

 shape for re-stocking with plants later. Clear out, 

 cleanse, repair, paint and fix up generally. AU 

 wood and brick work should be cleanly scrubbed. 



Hard-wooded plants, such as Aucuba. Laures- 

 tinus. Laurels, ^Vrbor-vittes, etc.. that have made 

 their growth for the season in the ground can be 

 lifted now to better advantage than later. 



Orchids now require to be gone over with a view to 

 separating plants that are going to rest from those 

 that are still activel.v growing. As the growth of 

 any Orchid appeai-s to be completed graduaUy 

 withold water and remove to a cooler part. Young 

 plants lately potted to have their growth encoiu-aged 



