Seasonable WorK in tKe A.mateur GreenKouse 



GIVE genistas and azaleas plenty of 

 water at the roots. Azaleas should 

 l)e syringed daily. Fuchsias may 

 be put away to rest. 



Early-stnick geranium cuttings should 

 be potted in 2J^-inch pots. Cuttings of 

 lobelia, vinca and other plants suitable 

 for window boxes may be taken at this 

 time. These are often left until too late. 

 If you are growing Easter lilies, ex- 

 amine the tips of the growth frequently 

 for aphis or green fly. Use a Httle dry 

 tobacco dust or tobacco water as a 

 remedy. Chrysanthemums should now 

 be in their full glory. These and carna- 

 tions are not easy plants for amateurs to 

 grow. Nevertheless, a few of them are 

 worth trying. The work of propagation 



should have been done long ago. If you 

 have some plants of chrysanthemums, 

 watch for the black aphis. Treat them 

 with a weak solution of kerosene (a 

 tablespfX)nful in a pint of water) or 

 strong tobacco water. The latter is the 

 safest and most efTective. 



Rubber plants, palms, dracsenas and 

 plants of that nature should have their 

 foHage sponged once every two weeks. 



CINERARIAS 



This plant requires very careful treat- 

 ment from the beginning; the most sim- 

 ple neglect may ruin its development. 

 They require a cool atmosphere and 

 plenty of top ventilation. Care in wat- 

 ering is necessary all through the period 



of growth. Do not allow the plants t(i 

 become pot-bound until they are in the 

 flowering pots. The greenhouse should 

 be frequently fumigated to prevent in 

 jury to the plants from green flies. 



PRIMUI-AS 



The treatment required by thes< 

 plants is similar to that of cinerarias, ex 

 cept that they may grow in a tempera 

 ture a few degrees higher. Primulas 

 however, should be protected from stron;, 

 sunlight with removable shading until 

 the plants are hardened. The compost 

 for the flowering pots should consist jf 

 of good loam, leaf mould, sand and ^ 

 a good proportion of well-rotted cow 

 manure. 



A Home-Made Hanging BasKet 



NEW and novel designs in hanging 

 baskets are welcomed by the ama- 

 teur window gardener. One that 

 is simple, pretty and inexpensive can be 

 made at home. A little green raffia and 

 a small basket in which figs are imported 

 are all that is required, except a small 

 brass curtain ring. From a recent issue 

 of Harper's Bazaar we have taken the 

 illustration on page 276. A writer in 

 that magazine tells how to make the 

 basket in the following words: 



"Take 16 long strands of the raffia, 

 double each one exactly in the centre, and 

 after slipping them through the ring, take 

 both strands and tie a single knot about 

 an inch from the ring. Do this with each 

 of the 16 strands. Take the left-hand 

 one and the right-hand one from the next 

 knot, and tie together one inch farther 

 down. Continue to do this until all are 

 tied. Then separate and proceed as 

 before, thus tying your basket net until 

 you have it a little deeper than the fig- 



basket. Then leave a two-inch space 

 before you tie again. After this, braid 

 the strands together so that you will have 

 eight braided ones, which you fasten at 

 the top, leaving the loose end for a tassel. 

 Now your net is complete, and into it 

 put first the little straw-colored fig 

 basket, then a finger bowl inside of that. 

 This is to be filled with water, and hung 

 in a sunny window with a spray of 

 wandering jew or other plant adapted to 

 the purpose." Make one yourself. 



THERE are three essential points in 

 the forcing of lettuce. First, the soil 

 must be in suitable condition. Sec- 

 ond, atmospheric changes must be con- 

 trolled and obviated as much as pos- 

 sible. And third, the crop must be 

 grown to maturity without a check. 



More failures in growing lettuce un- 

 der glass can be traced to unsuitable 

 soil than any other one cause. A good 

 soil for lettuce should be a rich, mellow, 

 turfy loam of a sandy character. Head 

 lettuce requires a lighter soil than 

 loose or leafy varieties. All heavy 

 soils should be avoided. A good com- 

 post for lettuce is composed of three 

 parts of well-rolled sod mixed with one 

 part of thoroughly rotted cow or stable 

 manure, and enough sand to make it 

 loose or gritty. 



To grow the first crop, or that which 

 comes into maturity about middle of 

 November, will take about 10 weeks. 

 The crops that follow, or midwinter 

 crops, require about four weeks longer. 

 If more houses than one are planted, 

 or if a succession of crops are wanted, 

 various sowings must be made accord- 



Forcing Lettuce 



ingly. For a steady supply make a 

 sowing every two weeks. 



The most profitable variety to grow 

 depends on the market available. It 

 is very difficult to give advice on this 

 point. If a head lettuce is required, 

 Boston Market still holds its own. If 

 loose or leafy lettuce is wanted Grand 

 Rapids is the best. The demand is 

 best and prices highest from January 

 to April, so it will be well to have the 

 heavy crops mature at that time, but 

 growers must be guided by their market 

 demand. 



To be of the best quality, lettuce 

 must be grown rapidly, hence nitrogen 

 is needed. This element can be sup- 

 plied in the form of nitrate of soda, one 

 half ounce to a gallon of water, which 

 will give good results. The temperature 

 of the house should be kept as steady 

 as possible. About 45 degrees at night 

 and 60 or 65 degrees during the day 

 with sunshine, and a few degrees lower 

 in dull or cloudy weather. Air should 

 be admitted on all favorable occasions, 

 but never allow cold drafts to check 

 growth or start mildew. Never allow 

 the atmosphere to become close or 



stagnant. A great many failures to 

 lettuce forcing is due to bad ventilation. 

 Unwholesome soil, insects and fung- 

 ous enemies should be watched very 

 closely. Green fly is very trouble 

 some. If it once gets a foothold, it i- 

 not easy to subdue. If the house is 

 kept too warm, it makes its appearance. 

 Fumigating regularly with tobacco 

 stems affords a good remedy. Look 

 out for the lettuce rot. It appears in 

 houses that are kept too close and wet. 

 Give plenty of air and raise the tem- 

 perature a little. Mildew can be kept 

 in check with sulphur fumes, bv paint- 

 ing the steam or hot water pipes at 

 spaces of 10 feet apart. Mildew is 

 caused by sudden changes in tempera- 

 ture or by drafts, and often by growing 

 the plants too soft. If the soil is stirred 

 frequently, and if there is reasonable 

 care given in watering and in main- 

 taining a uniform temperature, there 

 will be seldom anv trouble with mildew. 

 — L. H. W. J 



To count two white onions where one 

 grew before is evidence of industrv and 

 thrift. 



