138 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



March, 



keep in check the va^t increase which has taken 

 place in noxious grubs, worms, and caterpillars. 

 —From Nature. 



Lead Capped Olazin?. The annexed illustra- 

 tion will render the method plain. A A is section 

 of the bare, either of wood or iron: B shows sec- 

 tion of the glass between two adjacent bars; and 

 r D. C D that of lead capping; at C illustrating 

 the flange turned up to receive the gla«s, and at 

 D the lead turned down on the glass to secure it. 

 Any section of the bar can be used. The lead 

 being self-sustaining when rolled on to the bars, 

 without the use of nails to fix the same, enables 

 iron to be used as easily as wood. The glass can 

 be quickly inserted, is said to be held firmly 

 against wind, and will not slip.— Journal of Hort. 



NastttrtiumB as House-Plants. Just before 

 the killing frost of last November a friend cut a 

 bunch of Nasturtiums in full flower. They tilled 

 two large vases, and were as beautiful a parlor 

 ornament as one could wish for. To the surprise 

 of all, they refused to wither; on the contrary, 

 they rooted freely, and have since continued to 

 produce their flowers and ripen their fruits in 

 the window, as freely as when in the border. 

 For house-plants where there is a southern ex- 

 posure, there is no plant so showy, so proliflc in 

 foliage and flower, and so easilj' managed as the 

 climbing Nasturtiums.— Am. Agriculturist. 



Chrysanthemam Sport. Chrysanthemum 

 "Source d'Or" is illustrated on page 137. One-half 

 of the flower-head consisted of yellow, flat, strap- 

 shaped florets; the other of dark golden- 

 bronze florets, revolute at the edges. It seems 

 most plausible, that the appearance is due to the 

 unmixing or separation of previously blended 

 components. In a flower, which has been crossed 

 and re-crossed, and crossed again, for an untold 

 number of years, it is evident that the breed 

 must be very mixed indeed, and there can be 

 little wonder if a ''return to first principles'" 

 occasionally occurs.— Gardener's Chronicle. 



Self Reprodaction among Apples. The Fa- 

 meuse is probably the most decided case. It has 

 frequently been noticed, especially among the 

 old French orchards about Detroit, that while 

 some trees produce fruit, ricblj' blushed, and 

 with all the other typical peculiarities of the 

 Fameuse, there are yet others unmistakably of 

 this type, but which are striped with gi-eenish 

 yellow and red, indicating a very possible repro- 

 duction from the oiiginal type, during the early 

 days of French occupancy, and the planting of 

 seedling orchards, prior to the more general 

 practice of grafting.— Mich. Fanner. 



Varieties of Potatoes. Of varieties that can be 

 safely relied upon to make a fair return for out- 

 lay of cost and labor might be mentioned, the 

 Rural New Yorker No. 2, Extra Early Vermont, 

 Charles Downing, highly recommended by Ohio 

 Agricultural Experiment Station, Early May 

 Flower, Dakota Seedling, Dakota Red, Empire 

 State , season late, but otherwise very desirable; 

 Globe; Morning Star; Bell; Early Sunrise. 



Remedy for Aphis. Best and cheapest method 

 of keeping down green fly is simply to place the 

 Tobacco stems on the hot water pipes under the 

 benches. I use at the rate of one ton of stems to 



LEAD-CAPPED GLAZING. 

 10.000 feet of glass, but think less at a time would 

 do as well if the houses were clean of fly to start 

 with. After two months trial have yet to see 

 any evil effects.— E.H. in Am. Florist. 



Potatoes for Manure. Whenever Potatoes are 

 very low. it will pay you to plant perhaps even 

 100 bushels to the acre, for seed; for large Pota- 

 toes are worth a good deal for manure whenever 

 they cannot be used for anything else.- Gleanings. 



New Varieties. The horticultural public should re- 

 fuse to buy a plant or seed of any species or variety 

 that cau be tested In one or two seasons, unless it has 

 successfully run the gauntlet of the experiment sta- 

 tions.— Am. Garden. 



Kieffer for Ornament. There are many lovers of 

 ornamental trees who plant the Kieffer Pear for the 

 foliage. I have seen speeimens with foliage as bril- 

 liant as any tree famed for Its autumn beauty.— Phila- 

 delphia Press. 



European Potatoes. We have no reason to expect 

 from Europe varieties which are as good as the best 

 kinds which haveoriginatetl lu this country. —Bulletin 

 Minn. Kx. Station. 



Kelsey Plum. Anyone intending to plant the Kel- 

 spy will do well toinsist that the nurseryman send only 

 those trees which have been worked on Plum stocks.— 

 Fla. Dispatch. 



Fruit in California. The last crop Is estimated at 

 SlS.UOO.OtiO. More deciduous and other fruit trees will 

 be planted this year than ever before. 



Pure Cider Vinegar. Give us a vinegar law in every 

 State. The decoctions sold for pure vinegar are 

 villainous.— Western Rural. 



Complaint is made that farms are too large as a 

 rule. Yes, and gardens are too small as a rule. 

 —Western Rural. 



Stndy of Floriculture. N'o other will give your 

 daughter greater pleasure, nor her home greater 

 adornment . —Ex. 



Florida Phosphates may cure him. The tiller of 

 the soil in Florida is a sick man, sick with Impecunios- 

 ity.— Dispatch. 



Vegetable Products on Table. 



Fried Bananas. Bananas fried in batter make 

 a capital and seasonable breakfeast relish if 

 served hot and dusted with powdered sugar. 



Pickled Onions. One guart of button Onions; 

 pour on boiling brine and let it stand for 24 

 houi-s, drain and wash well in cold water, then 

 boil in vinegar, Mace, Pepper pods, unground 

 spices, a tablespoonful of brown sugar. Put in 

 jars.— Ex. 



Onions Scalloped. Hoit till tender six large 

 Onions; separate them with a large ?poon; place 

 a layer of Onions and a layer of grated bread 

 crumbs alternatelj' in a pudding dish: season 

 with Pepper and salt to taste: moisten with milk; 

 put in the oven to brown. 



Potatoes for Breakfeast. Favorite dish in the 

 West Indies is the following: Two pounds of 

 peeled Potatoes are washed and grated; four 

 ounces each are added of sugar and butter 

 melted, one teaspoonful each of salt and Pepper, 

 well mixed; placed in a baking dish, and put into 

 a brisk oven until done; it shows a delicate 

 brown color.— American Cultivator. 



Potato Puffs. Take mashed Potatoes and 

 make them into a paste, with one or two eggs; 

 roll it out with a dust of flour; cut round with 

 a saucer; have ready some cold roast meat, free 

 from gristle, and chop fine; season with salt. 

 Pepper, Thyme, or Pickles cut up fine; place them 

 on the Potato and fold over like a puff; pinch it 

 neatly around, and bake for a few minutes. 



Cooked Celery. Cut it in small cross sections, 

 using nearly the entire stalk and roots and re- 

 jecting only the very green parts. Cook it in 

 but little water, so that, when the Celery is very 

 tender, the water will have boiled nearly away; 

 then add milk sufficient for a nice gravy, season 

 to taste with siilt and Pepper, rub butter and 

 flour to a smooth paste, and add sufficient to 

 make it of a creamy consistence. When the 

 sauce boils it is done. 



Pumpkin Pie, Select a flne-grained, dry 

 Pumpkin, stewed and strained; one pint of rich 

 milk or part cream, one-half pint of Pumpkin, 

 two eggs beaten well with a fork, granulated 

 sugar to be real sweet, a little Vanilla, and Nut- 

 meg grated thickly over the top; a straight-up- 

 and-down earthen dish, two inches deep. Bake 

 slowly and carefully, as it should be fiiin when 

 done. Some people like to add a little molasses, 

 plenty of powdered Cinnamon and a little Gin- 

 ger.— Phila. Press. 



Celery Fritters. Take tender hearts of white 

 Celery of equal length and size, stew them in 

 milk till tender. When quite cold, put into a 

 basin two tablespoonfuls of flour, make a well 

 in the centre, drop in the yolk of an egg, after 

 putting the white in a dry basin or on a plate, so 

 that it can be whipped to a foam. Use the milk 

 in which the Celery was stewed to make the flour 

 and egg into a thickish batter that will cling to 

 and cover the Celery. Next season it with salt 

 and Pepper and three or four drops of l^emon 

 juice. Lastly whip up the white to a stiff, rock- 

 like foam and stir it thoroughly into the batter; 

 dip the Celery into this, fry in boiling fat till a 

 golden yellow, drain on wrapping paper, and 

 ser\e quickly and hot. Do not cover with dish 

 cover or cloth, as it would destroy the crlspness. 

 If they have to be kept waim put them on a wire 

 meatstand in the oven with the door open.— 

 Germantown Telegraph. 



Apple Turnovers. Mix a pint of flour, half a 

 teaspoonful of salt, two level teaspoonfuls of 

 baking powder, and three tablespoonfuls of 

 sugar. Uub through a sieve, and then rub into 

 It two tablespoonfuls of butter. Now beat an 



egg till light, and add to it a generous half cup- 

 ful of milk. Stir this into the dry ingredients. 

 Sprinkle the moulding with flour, and roll the 

 dough down to the thickness of about one-fourth 

 of an inch. Cut into cakes the size of a saucer. 

 It is a good way to lay a saucer upside down, on 

 the dough, and cut around it with a knife. Put 

 two tablespoonfuls of stewed, sweetened and 

 seasoned Apples on each piece of dough; fold 

 over, and roll up, pinching the edges together. 

 Have on the fire a kettle containing hot fat 

 about five or six inches deep. When the fat be- 

 gins to smoke put in a few Turnovers and cook 

 for eight minutes. Drain on brown paper. 

 They are gorKl hot or cold. The Apple used in 

 turnovers may be flavored with either i.^innamon 

 or Nutmeg. 



HOUSE PLANTS. 



Airing. Give plants abundant air whenever the 

 weather is suitable, to harden and prepare them for 

 going out later. 



Bulbs. The foliage of Hyacinths, Tulips, and other 

 forced bulbs may be allowed to ripen and dry off 

 naturally. Keep dry In the pot imtll fall, then plant 

 in the open ground. The bloom, although not flrst- 

 class, win be all right for cut flowers. 



Carnations. The young stock Intended for next 

 winter's bloom need light and air but not much heat. 



Cinerarias, if raised from seed early in summer, will 

 now be in bloom. They love a cool room, a sunless 

 window, but plenty of light, lots of wat*r at the root 

 and immunity from green fly. Calceolarias require 

 about the same treatment, only they shoiUd not bloom 

 till late in March or April. 



Dormant plants in cellar or pits, such as Oleanders, 

 Hydrangeas. Cactuses, Lantanas. ete., for which room 

 can be found in the window, may now be brought in. 

 Others may remain at rest until the season Is far 

 enough advanced for their removal outdoors. 



Geraniums, except those wanted for present bloom, 

 may be cut back for propagation. The slips will make 

 fine plants for bedding, while the old ones will be Im- 

 proved for summer bloom. 



Insects now multiply rapidly. The free use of 

 water, especiallj- with occasional flavoring of soft 

 soap or Tobacco, will aid in keeping them In check. 



Potting in case of window plants should as a rule 

 be delayed imtil the plants start Into fresh growth, or 

 show plainly that they are sulTering in their present 

 pots. Usually about the end of February or in March Is 

 the proper time. 



Oxalis. Give plenty of sun. They will then be at 

 their best now. 



Propagation. No better season for general propa- 

 gation than this. Cuttings of Geraniums. Coleus, 

 Petunias, and other soft-wooded plants are now 

 readily struck in sand in a light, warm place. Select 

 slips that are neither too hard, nor too soft. If brittle 

 enough to snap off readily when bent over, they are 

 in best condition for cuttings. 



Richardia. Start this month for growing In pots 



Shading. Many of the young growths are easily 

 injured by too much stm this month, especially Primu- 

 las and Camellias. Provide shade as needed diuing 

 the noon hours of clear days. 



Soil for pot plants should always be carefully pre- 

 pared. Nothing is superior to well decayed turf lull 

 of root tibers. clear for some plauts, for Instance Roses. 

 with an addition of one-third its bulk of well-rotten 

 manure for most others. 



Violets for winter bloom need about the same treat- 

 ment as Carnations. 



Watering needs close attention at this season. See 

 also under " Plant culture under glass," 



LAWN AND FLOWER GARDEN. 



Borders and beds, if unoccupied, may receive a good 

 coal of flne manure to be dug In deeply, the surface 

 to be left roughly for the present. 



Bos. Edgings to be taken up, divided and reset. 

 Plant deep and Arm the ground well around the plants. 

 Old edgings may be trimmed latter part of month. 

 " Bulbs. Gradually remove the covering from the 

 be<!ls. 



Cannas and Dahlias. Choice varieties may be 

 started lutti growth now with a view to division 

 somewhat later on. 



General Directions. Repair the damages done by 

 the storms of winter. If ornamental trees have had 

 their branches broken, cut them off smooth and cover 

 the wound with melted grafting wax or coarse paint. 

 Evergreens hold the snow In their tojjs and are very 



