1890. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



265 



Evergreens. If any pruning has yet to be done, be- 

 cause overlooked earlier In the season, this should not 

 be long delaye<i. In late summer the resin whk-h 

 exudes from the cut branches, prevents Injurious ex- 

 posure to the air. Where the trees have been properl>' 

 nourished with well-rotted manure, the effect will 

 show In stronger growth and Intensity of color. 



EverlastinKs. The flowers should be cut when 

 about half open, and dried In the shade. 



Dahlias. Attend to the proper staking. They need 

 stakes at the side branches as much as at the main. 



ForBet-Me-Nots to be divided early tn the month. 

 They will then become well established before winter, 

 and belter able to endure thehardshlpsof winter, with 

 its unavoidable freezing and thawlnK. 



Fall Frosts. The Hrst of these often occurs latter 

 part of the month. Be on your guard, and when a 

 frost Is anticipated, cover up all tender things out-doors 

 that maj* yet be useful In the days of flne, warm 

 weather usually following after such first one or two 

 frosty night. 



Gladiolus. The bulbs will develop all the better if 

 the flower stalks are cut off before seed begins to form 

 and ripen. 



Hanging baskets and vases may be kept in good 

 condition and attractive for some time, If protected 

 from the tlrst fall frost. 



Labels. Where It is desired that the names of var- 

 ieties be preserved, the proper labels should be put on 

 Dahlias, Gladiolus, etc., before frost destroys the tops. 



Lawn. Cooler autumn weather and more frequent 

 rains promote the growth of the grass, consequentli- 

 the lawQ mower should be used more frequently. 

 Sow seed where the grass Is thin. 



Lobelia cardinalis makes a very attractive plant 

 when grown In clumps. It is a native and easllj' 

 grown from see^l. Sow them as soon as ripe. Old 

 plants may be divided In October or in spring. 



Planting. All trees, shrubs and bulbs to be planted 

 this fall should be ordered now; bulbs to be delivered 

 and planted as early as can be. It is well to tell your 

 dealer that no trees and shrubs are wanted except 

 such as are dug after the leaves have fullj matured. 

 Then have the stock sent on, and plant them the 

 sooner the better. 



Perennials. Pseonies, Phloxes, Lilies, Irises, etc., 

 will have finished their growth. The clumps of all 

 such may be taken up. divided and reset. 



Tritomas to be given an occasional dose of liquid 

 manure to assist them in perfecting their flower spikes. 



Violets. Make a bed for flowers in early spring. 

 Prepare a frame with well-enriched soil, and plant 

 with vigorous plants from runners. 



PLANT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



Acacia. Water regularly, else the plants will lose 

 flowers and foliage. 



Begonias now coming into bloom, like a suimy situ- 

 ation. .A.pp!y liquid manure from time to time. 



Bonvardia, Carnations, Stevia, Violets, etc , are often 

 lifted and budded out in the plant houses. When this 

 is done keep the house close, shaded and frequently 

 sprinkled for a week or two, afterwards gradually 

 giving more light and air. 



Chrysantbemoms. See under "House Plants." 



Cinerarias. Prick out seedlings as soon as they can 

 be handled. Into pots or pans. Admit air and water as 

 required. A cool, airy situation is best for the plants 

 now getting in shape for flowering. 



Dracenas. Repot this month if required at all. 



General Directions. The greenhouse should now be 

 put In perfect shape for receiving plants. Make a 

 final thorough inspection of the whole arrangement. 

 See that heater and pipes are in working order. Be- 

 fore getting the stock into winter quarters, give the 

 house also a thorough fumigation with Tobacco stems, 

 repeating twice each week all through the greenhouse 

 season. Some of the more tender warm house plants 

 may need a fire started up during some of these cool 

 nights: but for the ordinary greenhouse plants we 

 would put off "firing up" until absolutely needed. 

 Air freely, and guard against aphis, thrips, etc., by 

 fumigation, as mentioned, as also by strewing Tobacco 

 among the pots. 



Hebeclinnms when rapi<lly growing should be 

 given an occasional application of liquid manure. 



Hardy bnlbs for early winter flowering should be 

 potted as soon as they can be procured from the dealer. 

 Use well-drained pots, and a light, rich soil, containing 

 sufficient sand to keep it open. Set In a dark place at 

 first, until the roots have become well developed. 



Orchids. As the days shorten, less moisture should 

 be given to most varieties. A low temperature during 

 winter to keep these plants almost dormant is the best 

 treatment. 



Plunged plants must be brought in before frost can 

 do them Injury. Small plants may go into frames for 

 a while, where protection in bad weather can be given. 



Frimnlas should be guarded against over-watering, 

 and the double white against too much sun. 



Propagation ot a general stock of tender plants to 

 be Increased during fall and winter for spring and 

 later use, should now be begun. Whenever pot plants 

 show young growth fit for the purpose, use It for cut- 

 tings. Pot them off at the flrst sign of roots. 



Syringe the newly planted houses occasionally, and 

 give free ventilation when the weather L« favorable. 



FRUIT GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 



Apples. Gather them as they mature, and save 

 carefully. 



Blackberries and Raspberries now need no further 

 cultivation. 



Borers. All young trees need a through inspection 

 at this time for lK)rers. Dig them out or wire them. 



Budding. This Is the usual monthfor budding Peach 

 trees, and still in season for all trees yet making vig- 

 orous growth, as Indicated by the readiness with which 

 the bark lifts from the stock. Cut the tieing material 

 on earlier set buds. Re-bud where the flrst attempt 

 was a failure. 



General Directions. We can only repeat that it will 

 pay the grower to take the utmost care In saving and 

 utilizing his fruit this season, because it Is scarce and 

 will be dear. There will be little necessity for thin- 

 ning anywhere, nor for propping. Refrain from sow- 

 ing grain In young orchards. 



Grapes should be packed In boxes holding three and 

 five pounds, of wood or pasteboard, according to the 

 usage of the market. Large quantities are shipped in 

 handled baskets, holding ten pounds, with a cover of 

 some thin stuff. Use scissors in gathering; those 

 which hold the bunch after it is cut are convenient, 

 and allow one to avoid handling the fruit. Fine ap- 

 pearance depends upon preserving the bloom. 



Marketing. See advice given under this heading In 

 August number. 



Pears of most varieties are better if ripened indoors. 

 The proper time to gather them is indicated by the 

 ease with which the stem parts from the branch, when 

 the fruit Is slightly lifted up. 



Picking. The returns for our fruit are greatly in- 

 fluenced by the care with which they are gathered. 

 Peaches, Plums, and even Apples and Pears, ought to 

 be handled as carefully as eggs; and they ought to be 

 picked just when at the proper degree of ripeness, so 

 they will reach the consumer when tn the height of 

 perfection. 



Planting. When the soil can be properly prepared, 

 and trees to be had with wood and foliage thoroughly 

 matured, fall planting is advisable for all but stone 

 fruits. Trees should be ordered early. 



Pruning may be doue after the foliage has fully 

 matured. Young trees should have all superfluous 

 shoots removed, and the head brought into shape. 



Strawberry beds should be gone over occasionally 

 to remove all weeds, so that none will go to seed. 



VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



Asparagus. It is now time to remove the tops, in 

 order to prevent them from scattering seed. Toung 

 plants thus started are worse than weeds. New beds 

 may be set out any time in the fall, if the soil is well 

 drained and well prepared. 



Beans. The ripe seed of the bush varieties may be 

 gathered and tised in place of the common field Beans 

 for the table. Lima Beans for seed should be taken 

 from the pods nearest the ground. 



Cabbage and Cauliflower. Seed for the early crop 

 should be sown this month; the plants to be wintered 

 in cold frames. It is usually best to make two sowings, 

 one on Sept. 15th and other Sept. 20th. The young 

 plants should be set into the frames about November 

 1st. Hoe the fall crop often. 



Celery. Keep them growing thriftily by frequent 

 cultivation and hoeing, Earth up the early crop, and 

 give to the later one Its first handling. 



Com. Save seed from the best hills in the patch. 

 To dry Sweet Corn, boll until the milk is set, cut from 

 the cob and dry quickly. 



Cresses, if desired for any purpose, may yet be sown. 



Egg Plants. Encourage growth vrlth liquid manure. 

 Guard against the fall frosts. 



Kale. The hardy sorts may yet be sown, best thinly 

 in drills. The young plants may be thinned out as 

 needed and used for greens. Growth will continue 

 more or less all winter. 



Lettuce may be sown In open ground to be set out 

 In frames later on. 



Melons. The late fruit which has no chance of 

 reaching maturity, might as well be removed at once. 



Onions. The dying tops give indication that the 

 crop is ready for harvesting. Pull and leave In wind- 

 ows until the tops are well dried: then top and leave 

 in hills to cure, sell, or store for winter. Seed may be 

 sown late to remain out all winter for early spring. 



Peppers should not be exposed to frost. Plants may 

 be pulled up and hung somewhere under shelter, where 

 they will continue to ripen their fruit. 



Spinach may now be sown for early spring greens. 

 Have rows one foot apart; sow plenty of seed and firm 

 the ground well. If too thick, thin in November, using 

 the thinnings for greens. 



Root Crops. Hoe between the rows as long as the 

 foliage permits. Afterwards pull up all stray weeds 

 to prevent their seeding. 



Squashes. The winter sorts should be gathered and 

 housed before frost. 



Tomatoes. If frost Is threatened, protect a»meof 

 the plants to have a late supply; also gather the fruit 

 on those left unprotected. All fully developed speci- 

 mens, if exxKJsed to the sun, under glass If necessary, 



will gradually ripen. The green ones may be used for 

 pickling material. There Is usually also a ready de- 

 mand for green Tomatoes In the markets. 



Turnips. Continue cultivation, hoeing and weeding. 

 Thin where too close. The early sorts may still be 

 sown with good prospects of getting a crop, except at 

 the extreme north. 



FRUITS AND VEGETABLES UNDER 

 GLASS. 



Oncnmbeis. If wanted during Januar>- and later, 

 start seeds now and grow in high heat. Air freely, but 

 do not stimulate growth otherwise much at the start. 



Grapes. In early hotises the wood has ripened, and 

 leaves begin to drop. Prune the vines and cleanse the 

 canes. It Is also now the best time to wash or paint 

 the Inside wood-work of the house. In later houses, 

 where fruit has not yet ripened, keep the temperature 

 at about 55^ to 60* at night, with 10« or 15* higher by 

 day. When the fruit Is ripe the atmosphere should be 

 kept rather dry. 



THE POULTRY YARD. 



Improve the Breed. Avoid inbreeding. Get 

 new, and if possible, better blood from time to 

 time. Now is the season to purchase the needed 

 cockerels, and whilst you are about it, gel good 

 ones only. 



Charcoal mixed with soft feed for all kinds of 

 poultry is better and cheaper than any condition 

 powder, because it does good and is harmless, 

 which cannot be said of patent nostrums.— Texas 

 Farm and Ranch. 



Give Them Whole Wheat. When hens begin 

 shedding their feathers, they generally begin to 

 quit laying. If they are fed on good healthy food 

 that is easily digested, and esi>ecially green stuff, 

 they will continue to drop an occasional egg all 

 through the moulting season. 



Bequiflites for September. As long as the 



season remains hot, perfect ventilation of the 

 poultry houses, and treciuent cleansing and de- 

 odorizing can be neglected only at the risk of 

 health ami perhaps lives of fowls. Use air-siacked 

 lime and sifted wood ashes, and the kerosene 

 spray often and thoroughly. ' 



Care Always Pays. Care bestowed upon poul- 

 try is not lost by any means, for the fowls appre- 

 ciate kindness and attention, and are very quick 

 in returning favors in the shape of nice fresh 

 eggs. The better the care, and the more varied 

 the diet, the better will Ije the results obtained, 

 and consequent increased profit for the keeper. 



Sow some Eye for PastuTe. Hens need some 

 kind of green food every day, and there is noth- 

 ing better than green rye in its season. Prepare 

 a piece of ground near the poultry house for this 

 purpose, and sow the Kye without delay. If put 

 in later it may be eaten off as fast as it grows 

 and thus destroyed. It should get a good start 

 before the hens are turned in. 



The Late Chickens. Chicks hatched very late 

 never amount to much unless well taken c*areof, 

 liberally and often fed, and sheltered during pro- 

 longed rains. We like a few late pullets, as they, 

 if properly handled, will give us eggs until 

 late next summer when other fowls cease laying. 

 The late cockerels, however, should go into the 

 kettle, or to market, at an early opportunity. 



The Dust Bath. Any roomy box will answer 

 for the hens to dust themselves in. A cheese 

 box is good and very often used. It is the same 

 as a bath, and equally as important to a fowl as 

 a washing is to a dirty i>erson. Good road dust 

 with a mixture of sulphur is the best. Ashes, if 

 allowed in the pen of fowls with yellow legs, will 

 ruin them for exhibition purposes.— F. and H. 



Weeding-out the Flock. Now is the time to 

 begin. Select your best pullets and the best of 

 the cocks, to the number required, and dispose 

 of the rest, old and young. It is not usiially 

 profitable to hold for higher prices. If not in 

 tirst-rate condition, separate the fowls to be dis- 

 carded from those to be kept, and give them all 

 the Corn Ihey will eat. It will soon make them 

 fat enough for market or the table. 



Divide the Flocks, It is universally conceded 

 that the best results are from small fiocks. When 

 too many are kept together there is a constant 

 struggle for existence, the stronger ones bully- 

 ing the weaker ones. There is no difficulty in 

 keeping a large number of hens if they are pro- 

 perly divided: that is, not over one cock and 25 

 hens in a flock for the active breeds, and not over 

 one cock to 12 hens for the quiet breeds. If divi- 

 ded in this manner the best result can be ob- 

 tained. Two cocks should never be kept in the 

 same flock.— Ohio Farmer. 



Give them Grit. When your hens are droopy 

 and seem anxiously searching for something, 

 and refuse to eat, give them grit. When they 

 seem crop-bound, with the crop soft and water 

 running out of the mouth, give tnem grit. When 

 they do not lay and waste a portion of their food, 

 give them grit. When they molt slowly or have 

 bowel disease, give them grit. If you want to 

 prevent cholera by having the flock %'igorous, 

 give them grit. If it is desirable to have the 

 hens derive all the nutrition in the fo(K3, give 

 them grit. If it is desired to make the hens get 

 every particle of lime from the food and thus 

 return good, hard-shelled eggs, feed them this 

 sovereign need.— Farmer and Stockman. 



