i8 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



October, 



to a minimum of trouble. But do not allow such 

 young plants to retain their (lowers, as they are 

 a strain upon the roots, which wiU prevent their 

 making a satisfactory growth the first year. 

 Making cuttings in August is not ativisabk-.unless 

 they can have a frame or hand-lights to protect 

 them from the sun and drying wind.— London 

 Gardening Illustrated. 



Pruning Apple Trees. When planting select 

 two year old. thrifty trees, cut out all cross Urabs, 

 and "see that the head is evenly balanced, with, 

 however, the heaviest side toward the southwest, 

 as that side needs more shade to protect the 

 trunk and main limbs from the hot afternoon 

 sun. Leave a center stem and avoid forks. Don't 

 forget the nature of the different varieties, and 

 on such as the Ben Davis, Winesap and many 

 others which incline to a low spreading top, sUwt 

 the top about four feet from the ground, while 

 such as Hightop Sweet that make a more upright 

 gi-owth, give not over three feet of trunk. The 

 extreme of either too compact or too open top, 

 should be avoided. Have the trunk sufficiently 

 compact to shade the trunk, yet open enough to 

 admit the air and light freely.— Rural World. 



Soatliern Truck Farming. Three hundred 

 thousand car loads of fruits and vegetables are 

 shipped northward from the South during a 

 season; having the average net market value of 

 of $100 per car load, with transportation charges 

 of $4,r)00,000 per annum. Florida and Louisiana 

 lead in earliness; advancing northward the States 

 each secure a share of the trade. Beginning in 

 February with early vegetables and followed by 

 vegetables, fruits and Melons until June. The 

 development of this industry has been so rapid 

 and general, that it has assumed great import- 

 ance not only to the South but to the country at 

 large, as one of the most significant of a number 

 of important movements toward diversification 

 of industry, and application of land to its most 

 profitable uses.— Manufacturer's Record. 



Huckleberry Improvement. The business of 

 impro\-ing the Hucklebeiry has not been much 

 of a success, its type is apparently fixed. There 

 have been many attempts, but at no time have 

 the wide-awake nurserymen been able to offer 

 improved and cultivated Huckleberries. One 

 advertised garden sort was widely planted, and 

 proved a good fruit, but wsis in truth a dwarf 

 Service Berry. This subject then seems refrac- 

 tory, but the work can be done, the fruit in 

 question becoming a denison of the garden. I 

 have in my eye, a patch of the little early sort, 

 the arbiireum, with leaves so bright and glossy, 

 the fruit so exceedingly abundant, and when 

 ripening of such a bright red, that the bush is 

 more than worthy of a place in the garden.— 

 Florida Dispatch. 



Cactuses. Grown in pots they are often exas- 

 perating to the last degree, and sometimes do 

 not bloom until one is ready to let them alone, 

 which is just what they like. Soil in which they 

 are grown should be 

 composed of s;ind, 

 broken plaster, bits of 

 brick, etc., with enough 

 earth to hold them to- 

 gether. Set the pots 

 where they have full 

 sunshine. Thin-leaved 

 varieties need water 

 only about once in two 

 weeks; thicker sorts not 

 as often. Lobster Cac- 

 tus is a favorite winter bloomer. Turk's Head 

 is handsome, even without bloom. Sword Cactus 

 has pink and scarlet flowers.— The Farmer. 



Strawberries and Water. How many know, 

 that the Strawberry will stand as much water as 

 the Cranberry, or that the bearing of a bed may 

 be retarded from two to three weeks, by flooding 

 it in the early spring, turning the water off at 

 the right time. On the low prairie, dotted with 

 ponds, the wild Strawberry's favorite place is on 

 the margin, just above the water Une, the fringe 

 of vines being from three to six feet wide, vnth 

 the common coarse grass and weeds growing 

 outside, and the ran'k sedges, with their feet in 

 the water, springing up inside.— N. Y. Tribune. 



A Jelly Stand. It is easily made, and the illus- 

 tration explains itself. The jelly bag is made of 

 flannel and sewed around a strong ring of wire or 

 wood. Kings may be fastened to the ends of the 

 cords, and slipped over the four top rounds, or 

 it may be tied. Jellies will be clearer if allowed 

 to drain thoroughly without squeezing, and it 

 saves much labor and staining of the hands. This 

 arrangement is convenient for making clear 



soups also. An old ehair,without a back,inverted 

 mightanswcr for the support.— Farm Journal. 

 Treating Peach Borer. The Peach borer, accorcllug 

 to Prof. A. J. Cook, has been vanyaished in the " Peach 

 belt of Micliigan, by the simple process of dlRKlnK out 

 the borers in late September and early May. This Is 

 not a hard task, as the oozing gum tells quickly where 

 the offender Is. The victory over these pests in Michi- 

 gan was obtained by concerted action among the 

 Peach growers— an example for emulation elsewhere, 

 and which is applicable as regards other injurious 

 insects.— American Cultivator. 



Seed Laws in Europe. In consequence of the con- 

 tinued frauds in seeds, the French government Intends 

 to have a law voted creating inspection of farm seeds 

 offered for sale. The prosecution will be attended 

 with few dllHculties. the penalties will be severe, and 

 the compensation allowed to farmers injured by the 

 fraud, will be liberal. A commissioner is to visit Ger- 

 many and study how the pure seed law there works. - 

 New England Fanner. 



An Onion Farm. Messrs. Swayze & Bulgln, In War- 

 ren county. New Jersey, own lliOU acres of the reclaimed 

 meadow lands, of which SOU are under cultivation. 

 Their Onion crop wlU reach 71X1,000 bushels. The last bill 

 for Onion seed was Sl,382. They have also set out 

 400,000 Celery plants, cut 350 tons of hay, and have .in 

 Asparagus 1 >ed of 50 .acres,- Warwick (N . Y.) Advertiser. 

 An Oak-Eating Out Worm. A cut worm about one 

 inch in length, Is causing much damage to Oak trees in 

 the vicinity of Ablngton, Mass. It cuts the limbs and 

 buries Itself in the wood. In working out, the limb is 

 cut off. Its ilcpredations are confined to Oak trees.— 

 Rural Home. 



Water Lily Growing. There is no plant, which can 

 be cultivated In the United States with less trouble 

 and more pleasure than this Lily.-Garden and Forest. 

 Plant Trees. Nature aims to keep every rod of 

 land covere.l by some form of vegetation . Let us help 

 her by planting trees.-New England Farmer. 



American Arbor Vita;. The American Arl)or Vita- 

 for wind breaks, is the poor man's friend , an.l the iron- 

 clad of the West.-Seed Time and Harvest. 



Stuffed Tomatoes a la Milanese. Take six 

 ripe Tomatoes of equal size, cut a circle off the 

 top of each, and scoop out the insides. Press the 

 pulp through a sieve, and mix in with it a little 

 salt, Cayenne Pepper, two ounces of butter 

 broken into little pieces, two tablespoonfuls of 

 bread-crumbs, a large Shallot finely minced, a 

 teaspoonf ul of Parsley, and two very large tea- 

 spoonfuls of grated Parmesau. Fill the Tomatoes 

 with this mixture, put on the tops again, and 

 bake in a moderate oven, or fry them in oil till 

 cooked brown; put Mushroom sauce or sauce 

 Espagnole round them. 



Vegetable Soup without Meat. This may be 

 used as the stock or basis of different kinds of 

 soups. Cut up a quart bowlful of any and all 

 kinds of vegetables that you may have; Onions, 

 Carrots, Potatoes, (these should be par-boiled for 

 a few minutes). Celery, Parsley, Leeks, Turnips, 

 Cabbage, Cauliflower, Spinach, etc., but always 

 have either Pot^itoes or Beans to serve as thicken- 

 ing. Put into a sauce-pan, a large tablespoonful 

 of the fat from the top of the soup if you have 

 it, if not either butter or dripping, but not lard, 

 and when it is very hot, put in the Onions and 

 fry until they take on a red color; stir in a table- 

 spoonful of flour. After stirring this for a minute 

 or two, add a quai-t and a pint of hot water, 

 pepper and salt and the remaining vegetables. 

 Simmer for two hours, press through a colander 

 and serve.— Western Ploughman. 



A Jelly Stand 



Vegetable Products on the Table. 

 Celery Vinegar. Soak one ounce id' Celery 

 seed in a pint of vinegar, bottle, and uiic for fla- 

 voring soups and gravies.— Germantown Tel. 

 Huckleberry Pie, This, besides plenty id' ber- 

 ries, should have two large spoonfuls of vinegar 

 to each pie, as the berries themselves are compa- 

 ratively tasteless. Add also one cup of sugar, a 

 little butter aud salt and a generous handful of 

 flour over the top.— Indiana Farmer. 



Baked Onions. Pare, slice, and bofl about an 

 hour, pinir off the witter, put the Onions into 

 a tin with butter nicely browned, pepper, salt 

 and sprinkle with a little Sage, and bake an hour. 

 While roasting, turn over occasionally, having 

 butter to keep them moist.— English Farm and 

 Home. 



Egg Plant Oysters. Boil the plant until tender 

 but not broken. Take out the inside, mash, 

 season highly with salt, ijopper and butter. Beat 

 the yolks of three eggs, add to the Egg Plants 

 with half pint of stale bread crumbs. Fry in hot 

 lard by dropping small spoonfuls.— Germantowu 

 Telegraph. 



Turnip Soup. Place six small Turnips In a 

 kettle witli one quart of cold water. Boil until 

 tender, then press all through a colander. Fry 

 two chopped Onions in three tablespoonfuls of 

 butter until yellow brown, then add to Turnips. 

 Add one (piart sweet milk, salt and pepper, one 

 tablespoonful each of Corn starch and butter 

 rubbed together uutil smooth. Boil five minutes 

 and serxe hot.— Prairie Farmer. 



How to Can Apples, Peel, quarter, and core. 

 Then pack the cans its full as possiblt, fill with 

 cold water, and screw on the covers. I have 

 tried this and have cans put up two months ago, 

 perfectly good to-daj'. Winter Apples when 

 rotting fast, may be saved in this way and kept 

 long into the summer or till new fruits come. 

 Fill the cans with water, put the palm of the 

 hand tightly down on the toji of the can, and 

 shake it well, to start the air bubbles that cling 

 to the pieces of Apple, then till again with water 

 and cover.— S. C. Fairbanks. 



Tomato Pie. Peel and slice yeUow Tomatoes; 

 place on the bottom crust one level tablespoon- 

 ful of flour mixed with one heaping talilcspoon- 

 f ul of white sugar, arrange the Tomatoes upon 

 this; sprinkle with nutmeg and a little more 

 sugar, and add a few lumps of butter; put on top 

 crust and bake in a quick oven. Eat with cream. 

 Red Tomatoes are almost as good. Green Toma- 

 toes can be used by cutting into fine slices, steam 

 until they can be pierced easily with a fork, 

 making as above with the addition of a half cup 

 of vinegar, using spice instead of nutmeg. 



HOUSE PLANTS. 



Begonias for winter, to have liberal watering, with 

 plenty of light (not necessarily sunshine), and not 

 unduly crowded. The Rex or Show-leaf class, from 

 now until after midwinter, should be but lightly 

 watered and kept In the shady part of the stand. 

 Tuberous ones rested, covering with dry eai th or sand 

 where it does not freeze; the pot plants to be dried off 

 storing in a frost-proof place. 



Bulbs. Winter Hyacinths arc to be potted during the 

 month. Pot firmly, but shallow, in light rtch soil; 

 cover the pots with six Inches of coal ashes, soil or the 

 like, for six weeks before bringing to light. Hyacinths 

 grown in glasses are very attractive. The glasses may 

 be had of the bulb dealers; the dark ones better than 

 those of clear glass. As to bulbs, select such as are 

 solid and heavy: not of the cheapest grades, single ones 

 being the best as also the earUest bloomers. To start 

 them, till each glass with clear water to within H Inch 

 of the bulb when In Its place. Fertilizers or charcoal 

 in the water are unnecessary. Wrap the glasses In 

 paper or cloth and set in a cool, dark closet after. 

 When the roots are growing freely, place in a light 

 window a few weeks. Add water as required, but 

 never having It high enough to touch the bulb. 



Caladiums from the beds when frosted to have the 

 leaves removed, and after several days be dug, dried 

 and stored In a cool place. 

 Oannas. See Caladlunjs. 

 Dahlias. Same treatment as for Caladiums. 

 Geraniums. Those kept from blooming up to this 

 time, are now in shape for fall flowering. Those from 

 the summer beds to have tops reduced one third or 

 more. The Ivy-leaf class are especially fine for the 

 house. Geraniums closely cut back and potted, winter 

 well m agood, dry cellar; toomnch growth lefton leads 

 to decay. 



Half-hardv plants like Roses. Daphnes, Ancubas, 

 Euonymus, Jasmlnums, Oleanders, Olives, Plttospo- 

 rum, Pomegranate, Rosemary, etc., should be brought 

 to winter quarters before hard frosts. A good, dry, 

 partly Ughted cellar Is suitable for them, or a glass- 

 covered pit In a sheltered spot outside will answer. 

 Hanging baskets and Interior window boxes to be 

 started early, and kept outdoors or on the veranda for 

 a while, to become well established. 



Lifted Plants. Lightly sprinkle these several times 

 a day, until flagging of the leaves ceases. It Is best to 

 gradually accustom window plants to shade and close- 

 ness by keeping them on the veranda or like place 

 until the weather becomes too cold. Then when taken 

 In, do not expose to much heat. 



Primroses are good house plants, because rather 

 liking dryness. They need light, and through bloom- 

 ing time some weak liquid manure once a week, has an 

 excellent effect. 



Tuberoses that are late may be lifted and brought 

 In for perfecting the flower crop. Lift balance of 

 tubers, cure and store In a dry place of a temperature 

 of 50" or etf Fahr. 



