66 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



December, 



to growing up families, and incite a taste for 

 rural ana scientiflc study.— Albany Cultivator. 



Protecting Peach Trees Energetic cultivators 

 In the Northwestern States grow superior Peaches 

 every year by giving winter protection. Two 

 methods are noted. In one, the trees are planted 

 in a sloping position and trained to a flat, or fan- 

 shaped form. Late in autumn the branches are 

 bent down and covered with Corn-stalks, which, 

 by retaining the warmth from the soil, prevent 

 hard freezing. The other method is to jilant the 

 trees at the base of a steep slope, or high bank, 

 when, by training in the same manner, the 

 branches may be laid over against the back, and 

 covered as above not«d. The expense of cover- 

 ing is slight as compared with the value of a fine 

 crop of Peaches.-Country Gentleman. 



Treating Scale Insects and Parasites at the 

 South, clean away the top earth in the fall for 

 two or three inches deep, and for three or four 

 feet around the tree, and sprinkle wood ashes 

 over the place, leaving it until spring, then re- 

 place the dirt, and when the trees are done 

 blooming, smoke them on a still night with 

 Tobacco and brimstone. I use charcoal in a vessel 

 or pan, and after it gets to burning, put on the 

 Tobacco and then the sulphur. This has saved 

 my Plum and Peach trees, both of which have 

 done 50 per cent better since I began this treat- 

 ment. I find that Pear trees are benefited by hav- 

 ing a dressing of iron filings.— Farm and Home. 



Hollow Brick Wall. At the greenhouses of 

 the Diugee & Conard Co., their Superintendent, 

 Mr. Antolne Wintzer, states fliat walls of this 

 construction have stood on their plaee for nearly 

 20 years in good condition. The sketch shows 

 plainly how the wall is constructed The great 

 advantage of a hollow wall is admitted and it 

 would seem that such a simple manner of con- 

 struction should commend itself. It would be 

 well to give such a wall a strong stone founda- 

 tion, and sink it well into the ground to prevent 

 heaving by frost, in any latitude north of 

 Philadelphia.— American Florist. 



Cyclamens for tlie Window Garden. These 

 succeed admirably, especially wherever gas is 

 not used to a great extent. Repot if necessary, 

 when the new growth is commencing, using a 

 mixture of loam, leaf-soil, and sand, with good 

 drainage. Keep the soil constantly and evenly 

 moist after roots have freely formed, and the 

 plants in all the light possible, and sate from frost. 

 In May remove to a lightly shaded position out- 

 of-doors, and stUI keep the soil .iust moist.— 

 Gardening Illustrated. 



No use for the Potato Blossom. The seed of the 

 Potato, which results from the blossom, are not 

 only unnecessary to the formation of the tuber 

 below, but are a prejudicial strain on the plant, 

 for it stands to reason that the plant which is 

 propagated from its root-stem ought not to spend 

 its energies in the production of flowers and 

 seeds which are of no economic value whatever. 

 —Mark Lane Express 



English Cut-Flower Trade. Of the London 

 flower trade, we can safely say that the designs 



and decorations _- — - — _ ' ^^_ ^ i l_ 



are much behind ^„ _^:- ' — — - ^1 p, 



those of the J ; ,. l,.i - 



leadings florists 

 of the United 



States. The de- '.':^-'—f*f:*r"* "i "'"""' " ' ' ■ '- ■' " 

 signs are more g^g,,^,^^^^^ ^^jj^o^ gt^eenTiouse. 

 formal, lacking 



the ease, grace, and warmth of color which char- 

 acterize the American florists' productions. 

 Only in jilant decorations do the English florists 

 and decorators excel.— American Florist. 



Foreign Fruit Evaporating. In England land 

 is too high to devote to Apples, with a view to 

 competing with the United States in evaporated 

 fruit. Attempts made in Germany to establish 

 the fruit evaporating business have failed. An 

 adequate supply of good fruit could not be had 

 to keep the evaporators running.— Chautauqua 

 Farm and Vineyard. 



The Dwarf Champion Tomato. We have observed 

 the growth of this Tomato with much Interest. It has 

 not the sprawling habit of other varieties, Its stem 

 being self-supporting. The foliage also differing. For 

 the home garden the plant will commend Itself by its 

 neatness, and the fruit which Is produced quite abun- 

 dantly, is of fair size, extra smoothness, and good 

 quality.— Farm Life. 



Testing Seeds at Experiment Stations. We would 

 suggest that the seed tests he made as soon as possible 

 after the seeds are harvested, and the results made 

 known before the time of sowing, then growers would 

 have the opportunity of selecting the best.— German- 

 town Telegraph. 



A New Winter Delicacy. A Pearl river plantsman 

 Is bleaching the tops of Russia Turnips, which are in 

 favor abroad, and are prepared for the table much the 

 same as Sea-kale. These and Cauliflower, will be in 

 market about Christmas.— Garden and Forest. 



What Ashes are Worth. A bushel of average hard 

 wood ashes is worth eighteen cents for the potash and 

 phosphoric acid alone, according to the commercial 

 price of these ingredients.— Bulletin Mass. Ex. Station. 



The Fruit-eating population of the United States is 

 Increasing far more rapidly than the fruit-raising 

 population.— Chautauqua Farm and Vineyard. 



Sharp Californians. The fruit driers of California 

 have organized an association that seems very much 

 like a " Trust " from this distance.- R. N. Y. 



The late Emperor Frederick was a munificient 

 patron of the gardening art, having a great love for 

 flowers.— Gartenflora. 



Apples are shipped from California to Australia.- 

 Garden and Forest. 



Vegetable Products on the Table. 



The Sharpness of Vinegar is entirely owing to 

 the pointed figure of its salts, which float therein. 

 — Scientific American. 



Celeriac, Scrape the roots carefully, boU in 

 water till tender; when half done season with 

 salt, and when cooked serve with a cream sauce. 



Stewed Celery. Cut the Celery into pieces two 

 inches long, boil half an hour, drain, pour 

 fresh water on, and boil for another half hour. 

 Drain and serve on toast with melted butter. 



Fried Squash. Sieve two and one-half cups of 

 cooked Squash; add a pint of milk, two eggs, a 

 teaspoonful of sugar, a pint of flour, two tea- 

 spoonfuls of baking powder and a little salt. 

 Beat together until smooth and fry in butter. 



Onions Fried. In a hot pan, put butter (or 

 meat fryings after frying meat), and the Onions 

 sliced with a little hot water, sprinkle with pep- 

 per and salt and cook twenty minutes; add a 

 teaspoonful of flour in a little milk and serve 

 when it boils. 



Sweet Potato Pone, To one and ahalf pounds 

 of Sweet Potato, boiled and mashed, add a heap- 

 ing tablespoonful of butter, a Uttle salt, two 

 tablespoonfuls of sugar, one of ginger, and half 

 a pint of milk, beat well, pour in a buttered pan, 

 and bake an hour.— Farm Journal. 



Sugared Popcorn, Boil in an iron kettle a 

 spo( mf ul of butter, three spoonfuls of water and 

 a cup of granulated sugar; when ready to candy, 

 pour in three quarts of well popped Corn; stir 

 until the Corn is covered with syrup, remove 

 from the fire and continue the stirring until cool. 



Preparing Salsify. Scrape the salsify and put 

 into cold water with one tablespoonful Lemon 

 juice. Boil in salted water until tender. Sauce, 

 — melt two tablespoonfuls of butter, add one 

 tablespoonful flour and pour on slowly one and 

 a half cups white stock; season with salt and 

 pei)per.— Mass. Ploughman. 



Parsnip Cakes. Peel the Parsnips; cook them 

 soft in slightly salted water; mash, and to a pint 

 add two tablespoonfuls each of butter and 

 cream, or milk. Heat and stir in two well-beaten 

 eggs; when cool make into small cakes. Dip 

 these in beaten egg, then in bread crumbs, and 

 fry in boiling fat.— Prairie Farmer. 



Baked Cauliflower, Boil tender, cut into neat 

 clusters and place in a buttered pudding dish, 

 stalks downward. Make a soft paste of bread 

 crumbs, melted butter and cream; add salt and 

 pepper and one egg well-beaten. Place this over 

 the Cauliflower or Broccoli, cover closely and 

 bake eleven minutes, browning the last five. 

 Serve very hot. 



Belish of Cabbage. One good head of Cab- 

 bage, shaved as fine as possible; one tablespoon- 

 ful of grated Horse-radish to each quart of Cab- 

 bage; one pint cider vinegar; let it come to a 

 boil. Three eggs, a little salt. Beat the eggs 

 well, stir into the vinegar until cooked, then 

 pour it over the Cabbage and set away to be 

 eaten cold.— California Patron. 



Using Sea-Kale. An excellent sauce for Sea- 

 kale is made by rubbing several ounces of but- 

 ter in flour; then stir in the yolks of eggs, accord- 

 ing to quantity of sauce wanted; flavor with a 

 squeeze of Lemon juice, serve with the plain 

 boiled Sea-kale, but not pouring over. Cold 

 Sea-kale may be cut into pieces, dipped in 

 batter, and fried, forming a palatable side dish. 

 -British Journal of Catering. 



Baking Sweet Apples. Most kinds of sweet 

 Apples do not easily bake soft as the best cook- 

 ing sour varieties do. They have, besides, too 

 little acid to fit them for pies, though where no 

 other fruit can be had, the demand for pie may 



be met by mixing them with cider vinegar. But 

 they need no addition for baking by themselves. 

 The sweet Apple thus prepared is e.xcellent and 

 healthful and are easily digested by the most 

 delicate stomach.— American Cultivator. 



HOUSE PLANTS. 



Airing. Observe this closely to secure a uniform 

 temperature without drafts. 



Aspidistras need plenty of water at the^rootsand 

 the foliage wiped off with a wet sponge. 



Azaleas may be treated Uke Aspidistras. 



Begonias not in bloom can be somewhat shaded, 

 while flowering ones like a sunny position in 55° to 

 60° of temperature. 



Century plants and all others of its class to be kept 

 rather dry, but free from dust on leaves. 



Chrysanthemuras. After labelling properly, cut the 

 tops oft' and keep in a cool place, watering but little 

 until cuttings are wanted. 



Cob(Ba scandens, being a rapid grower, requires 

 attention as to tying. Green fly and red spider often 

 spoil its beauty. Use Tobacco water for the fly, and 

 sponge the leaves for the latter. 



Farfugium grande while growing slowly to have 

 less water. It does best In light soil. 



Frosted plants should be promptly moved to warmth 

 of only about 3(5° to thaw out gradually, as nothing can 

 be worse tlian high heat. Carefully wet the frosted ones 

 with cold water, and do not handle the leaves. 



Hyacinths in glasses, as the roots are well developed 

 are to be brought in for flowering. 



Ivies for beauty as well as for health must be kept 

 free from dust and Insects. 



Jerusalem Cherry and other Solaniuns require the 

 fruit and foliage to be kept clear of dust; cover when 

 sweeping, building fires, etc., wash sometimes. 



Lantanas are especially liable to suffer from red 

 spider; syringe often. 



Light. All that can be had at this dark season Is 

 needed; curtains should be rolled to the top through 

 the day. Nothing should come before the glass of the 

 upper window sash. 



Lily of the Valley. Clumps taken from where the 

 plants are strong in the garden will bloom in a warm, 

 light window. 



Mignonette does best In a light place; loosen the soil. 



Othonna often damps off at this season if carelessly 

 watered. A light, rich soil with a temperature of 50" 

 to 55° suits them. 



Plants in the cellar not to be allowed to dry or shrivel 

 up but avoid to much dampness. 



Primroses need warmth and freedom from damp- 

 ness and drafts. 



Sempervivums. Keep somewhat dry, from 45° to 50°. 



LAWN AND FLOWER GARDEN, 



Allheas. For one or two years after planting these 

 should have the soil mounded up over the roots and 

 the tops tied in straw. 



Clematis. Protect each plant after being cut back 

 or laid on the ground, with several forkfuls of manure. 



Compost Heap. The chief substances for it to be 

 turf rich in vegetable fibre (from a pasture or roadside) 

 and manure, say two parts of the former and one of 

 latter. In addition there may go to it muck, wood's 

 earth, road scrapings, leaves, soil sittings, old piaster, 

 ashes, hen manure and all like materials to be gathered 

 about a place. These should be built up in regular 

 layers to form a shapely pile. In the spring with work- 

 ing from one end of the pile to throw It over once or 

 twice, all the matter will soon be in capital shape. 



Drains. New ones may be laid in fair weather; old 

 ones til be watched, seeing that they are in working 

 shape. Sometimes drains become stopped by rats or 

 other causes. This can only be corrected by following 

 up the drain tile by tile from the opening to the place 

 of trouble. 



Evergreens. Whenever snow lodges on these shake 

 It off, as they are likely to be Injured. 



Herbaceous plants of the hardy class to have a 

 covering of strawy manure. 



Lilies like Auratum and other delicate sorts to be 

 protected by earth or ashes over them. 



Protection. Plants like Pampas Grass, Chrysanthe- 

 mums, Tender Roses, etc., may in many places, be 

 wintered outdoors by hilling earth around so as to leave 

 the plant in a hollow which is filled with leaves, so 

 roundedup as to remain above the groimd after settling. 



Rockeries. Have coarse manure strewn over the 

 more exposed places, keeping it in place by brush. 

 New ones may be commenced. 



