114 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



February, 



from cuttings, l>vit preferably from seeds early 

 in the spring; they will generally vegetate in 

 about two weeks. When large enough to handle 

 put the strongest plants singly in small pots, 

 keep close until a fresh start is made, shift into 

 larger pots as they increase in size, giving plenty 

 of water while making their growth. After 

 flowering and fruiting. If kept cool, the berries 

 will remain on the plants for over a year, or until 

 fresh ones are produced.— Country Gentleman. 



The lucretia Dewberry not well Thoaght Of. 



Everybody praises it except the reports from the 

 Rural Grounds. The berry is large, early to 

 ripen and of fair quality, but the same might be 

 said of a score of upright varieties like Minne- 

 waski, Kittatinny, Agawam, Lawton, Taylor, 

 Erie. But with the Dewberry the berries are 

 well concealed by its prickly foliage which 

 spreads out o\er at least 12 feet and one has to 

 stoop low and try his patience sorely in gather- 

 ing the berries without tearing his flesh. Our 

 final opinion of the Lucretia is that if we were 

 obliged to have Lucretias or go without Black- 

 berries we shoidd go without.—Rurdl New Yorker 



Sparrows Eating Potato Bugs. The \*ineyard- 

 ist in charge for Messrs. Ellwangerand Barry for 

 the last fourteen years, says that he has never 

 seen a sparrow puncture or eat a single Grape, 

 and so far as his observation extends the charge 

 of Grape eating must be considered not proven 

 against the sparrow, and he also said that he does 

 eat the Potato beetle. Not the mature, old hard 

 shelled fellows, but the little tender half or 

 quarter grown bugs. I have seen the sparrows 

 feeding on these and have known them to clean 

 up a Potato patch in short order.— Farm Life. 



Preparing the Soil for Easpberries. A success- 

 ful grower deijends largely on thorough prepa- 

 ration of the soil, summer-fallowing the ground 

 if it is necessary to kill the weeds, but not other- 

 wise. He manures heavily and reduces the 

 whole to fine tilth. He estimates that this thor- 

 ough pre|)aration aids principally in giving him 

 a crop worth about three times as much as one 

 from ordinary management, the berries l)eing 

 larger, finer and in greatly increased quantity. 

 —Country Gentleman. 



Getting the Best Seed. It seems as if it would 

 pay to pay a good deal extra for large, perfect, 

 plump seeds, and we can all of us send for sam- 

 ples of the seeds we want before purchasing, 

 getting a five cent package; then compare the 

 seeds obtained from difl'erent seedsmen and pur- 

 chase the best. When you send your order state 

 that the seeds sent must be fully equal to the 

 sample and though this will take time and trouble 

 it will pay.— Gleanings in Bee Culture. 



Weed Law Wanted. Every State should have 

 a weed law. One man finds it nearly useless to 

 destroy the weeds on his place because his neigh- 

 bor lets them grow and ripen their seeds to 

 scatter everywhere. This matter is serious. It 

 costs too much money to keei» land free from 

 weeds. Hence we hope to see more stringent 

 legislation for if people will not do the projjer 

 thing voluntarily they should be made to do it.— 

 Western Rural. 



Recreatiou in Soil Culture. Mo.st of our public 

 meu have found their chief delight in the cultivation 

 of the soil and in pursuits closely connected therewith. 

 Jeffersou was an indefatigable gardener and planter 

 of trees. He had everything growing on his place 

 which could be coaxed to Hve in the latitude of Vir- 

 ginia. Voltaire was an euthusiastic farmer who culti- 

 vated a great deal of laud. He kept bees, cultivated 

 vineyards, and had plantations of young tree.s, in 

 all of which he took an extraordinary interest, and 

 maintained a force of thirty laborers working upon 

 them.— Youth's Companion. 



The Best Way to Plant Cherries. Alternating 

 varieties in the i 'hcrry or Plum nrehard favors regular 

 fruitage. A variety that might be a poor bearer when 

 depending on its own pollen may greatly improve 

 when intermingled with other sorts. Again if the 

 weather diu-iug the blossoming period is hot and 

 wludy, a variety may waste its pollen before the 

 stigmas are ready and in such the pollen of adjoining 

 sorts may supply the want.- Garden and Forest. 



The White Flume Lettuce. I got one nice plump 

 head of Lettuce that is almost entirely milk-white only 

 the extreme ends of the leaves having patches of green 

 on them; but it Is quite evident that the goal is not 

 very far off as the main thing now is to get this head to 

 send up a seed stalic and form seed.— Gleanings. 



Timber Screens. The continued experience of 

 orehardists of the high autumn winds in liaving a large 

 portion of good market fruit blown oft shows the 

 great value of windbreaks on the exposed sides of 

 orchards.— Rural Home. 



The Variegated Dogwood. Of the conspicuous 

 form known In the catalogues Cornus Slberica varie 



gata, the leaves are almost entirely white and retain 

 their tlut bravely all summer long.- New York Tribune. 



Three Good Grapes. Mr. P. M. Augur recommends 

 for a garden where there Is only room for three 

 varieties, Concord (black), Brighton (red), Pockllngton 

 (white).— New York Voice. 



As the canned fruit jars are emptied refll with Ap- 

 ples for July. It takes ten bushels for each member of 

 the family through the year, and we count it cheap 

 food.— Farm Journal. 



Poor Tree Seeds. Those who buy new seeds know 

 those emanating from the Department at Washington 

 often to be the veriest trash.— Prairie Farmer. 



The Blue Spruce requlies constant moisture until 

 well established.— American Garden. 



English Walnuts, we believe, will thrive wherever 

 Peaches do.— Orchard and Garden. 



Thinking must be done to raise a good crop of 

 anything.-Rural New Yorker. 



Vegetable Products on the Table. 



Loosening Fruit Jar Covers. Invert the jar 

 and place the top in hot water for a minute; 

 then it will turn easily. 



Oooking Sweet Potatoes* Pare, slice thinly 

 boil until tender, then fry brown, sprinkle su^ar 

 on to taste, serve hot.— Henry A. Green. 



Cranberry Sauce. To one quart of berries add 

 a pint of sugar and a cup of water. Cook ten 

 minutes and with neither stirring nor straining 

 this will be clear and delicious. 



Cabbage Soup. To water in which bacon has 

 been boiled, add a Turnip, one half head of Cab- 

 bage, three Onions and two stalks of Celery 

 seasoned, chopped fine and stewed till tender. 



Nut Cake. One half cup of butter, one cup of 

 sugar, one half cup of milk, two cups of flour, 

 one cup of seeded raisins, one cup of nut meats, 

 two eggs, one and one half teaspoons of baking 

 powder.— American Cultivator. 



To Stew Parsnips. Boil several slices of salt 

 pork an hour and a half ; cut half a dozen or so 

 Parsnips in quarters lengthwise and add to the 

 pork and let boil one-half an hour, then add a 

 few Potatoes and boil until soft. 



Frosted Apples. Pa re, core and slice the A pples 

 aud bake \nitil nearly done. Allow them to get 

 entirely cold, then pour otf all the juice and lay 

 sugar icing thickly on the tops and sides and 

 return to the oven to harden a little, then 

 serve with cream. 



To Make a Fig Pudding. Take a half pound 

 each of new fresh Figs, bread crumbs, sugar, 

 beef suet and 3 eggs. Chop the suet and Figs 

 fine, mix them with the bread crumbs, then add 

 the sugar and eggs beaten. Boil steadily for two 

 hours and eat with a hot sauce.— Prairie Farmer. 



How to Cook Lettuce. Cut off all outride 

 leaves, wash and put into biuling water until 

 they have become nearly white, then put into a 

 stewpan with Can-ots, Onions, butter, pepper 

 and salt. Cover with water aud boil for two 

 hours, then put into another stewpan with butter 

 a pinch <»f flour and sauce, cook for ten 

 minutes and serve. 



Canned Fruit Pudding. Place in the bottom 

 of a puddiug dish fruit ot any kind, as Peaches, 

 Strawberries, Pliuus with but little juice and 

 sweetened to tastf. In one pint of milk stir in 

 the yolks of four eggs, a bttle salt and sugar, one 

 teaspoonful of corn starch and let it cook till 

 stiff, constantly stirring, then turn over the 

 fruit and let it get cold. 



Salsify Cakes. Pass half a pound of boiled 

 Salsifies and half a pound of boiled Potatoes 

 through a sieve; add the yolk of an egg, the 

 juice of a Lemon, half a teaspoonful of salt, a 

 pinch of pepi>er aud one ounce of melted butter. 

 Beat imtil well mixed, then form into Hat round 

 cakes half an inch thick; roll each cake in tiuur, 

 dip into a well beaten egg, after which cover 

 with bread crumbs and tht^u fry in boiling fat.— 

 English Farm and Home. 



Puree of Lima Beans. Si lak oue quart of dried 

 Limas. Put iu boiling salt water aud add two 

 ounces of butter, and any vegetables and herbs 

 desired, including a Carrot, Onion, Cloves, Pars- 

 ley and Garlic, boiling until soft. Drain oft' the 

 liquid and mash the Beans. Dilute with the 

 liquid. Press through a sieve, then boil and add 

 more liquid if necessary, skim well and finish 

 with four ounces of butter, chopped Parsley and 

 one cupful of cerealine flakes. Season to uxste. 



Orange Pudding. Put into a bowl fou r ounces 

 of crushed loaf sugar, the grated rind of one 

 large Orange, three ounces of stale sponge cake 

 finely crumbled, nutmeg and salt. Pour over 

 these ingredients half a pint of boiling milk, the 



strained juice of three Oranges, and three well 

 beaten eggs. Mix all thoroughly; line a pie dish 

 with good puff paste, pour in the mixture, and 

 bake half an hour. Sprinkle white sugar, mixed 

 with grated Orange rind, over the top before 

 serving.— N. E. Farmer. 



HOUSE PLANTS. 



From now on, with longer days and more sunlight, it 

 Is easy to keep healthy plants looking well. They will 

 appear as If awakening from the half-sleepy winter 

 state, and these fresh movements in growth must be 

 backed by treatment that will ensure the formation of 

 healthy roots and wood. 



Begonias of the free-blooming sorts will now require 

 but moderate supplies of wat«r. 



Bulbs at this season grow and bloom remarkably 

 well, and are to be regularly brought in for succession. 

 The glasses must be kept filled with water for those 

 growing therein. 



Camellias in bloom want a temperature of about 45" 

 at night and lU" to 15" higher through the day. Keep 

 somewhat warmer after blooming, with a moist atmos- 

 phere; and they should have air freely (but not cold 

 draughts), in all suitable weather; frequently sponge 

 the leaves on both sides. 



Chrysanthemums. St«.rt up the old plants of the 

 varieties from which it is desirable to propagate, and 

 also decide upon the new sorts to be purchased. 



Fuchsias that have been repotted and started up, 

 may have slips, if good and strong, taken from them, 

 to root. Old plants are more satisfactory for being at 

 this season cut back. Young plants for the tlrst year 

 usually reach a better shape without cutting back, 

 except It be of any strong side-shoots for Inducing 

 symmetry. Guard always against their becoming pot. 

 bound, for growth should be constant. 



Geraniums of the Scarlet or Zonale section, with 

 the exception of some wanted for present bloom, may 

 be severely cut back for propagation; the slips taken 

 now will make tine plants for bedding, and the old 

 ones come along well for summer bloom In pots or beds 



Heliotropes struck now make fine plants for sum- 

 mer. Sliift old plants as they gel pot-bound. 



Oleanders may be started up for extra early 

 flowers. Free watering aud later some stimulant to 

 the roots Is necessary. 



Plants in cellars and pits to be given air occasion- 

 ally for hardening them. If the earth in the pots or 

 boxes Is very dry, give water. 



Pruning. Amateurs are needlessly afraid of the knife; 

 soft-wood grovFths may be pruned freely and fine, 

 bushy forms from the groimd be the result; otherwise 

 oue is liable to have long-legged, unattractive plants. 



Roses will begin to show growth ami bloom; give 

 a sunny situation, but avoid too much warmth. Keep 

 down all vermin. Hybrid Perpetuals, (wintered in 

 pots) now in heat, quickly start up, and when buds 

 appear, stimulate with liquid manure in small doses. 



Seed Sowing. Mimulus, Maurandia, lee Plant, Sen- 

 sitive Plant, Snapdragon, and Chinese Fiuk> may con- 

 tinue to be sown for summer decoration. All annuals 

 may be sown in heat by the end of the month. 



Sweet Alyssum. Propagate from slips or seed. 



Watering. Let no plant sutler from dryness, neither 

 from over-watering, and keep a watchful eye as to 

 which kinds dry out soonest, as their Is much varia- 

 tion both In plants themselves and also in their situa- 

 tion as to this. To water all kinds alike is not the 

 best of management. 



LAWN AND FLOWER GARDEN. 



Bedding Plants. Whatever stock that will be 

 wanted, if U> be bought, may usually be contracted for 

 witli the rtorist's thus early at reduced rates. 



Hedges of deciduous kinds should receive their 

 winter pruning in mild weather. Tramp down the 

 snow to prevent any injury from mice by girdling 

 under it when loose. 



Hot Beds are of almost Invaluable assistance in 

 bringiug along pot aud bedding plants for summer. 



Labels, stakes and like necessaries to the garden, 

 should be made or bought for spring use. 



Lawn. A three inch dressing of flue, well-rotted 

 manure is needed by the turf every second or third 

 year. A Uberal application of a good commercial 

 fertilizer may be given instead if the manure is 

 objectionable. 



Pansies. If no stock has been wintered over, by 

 .sowing seeds now, iu moderate heat, good spring- 

 blooming plants may be had. 



Plans. The main operations to be carried out the 

 coming season should be decided upon before the time 



