158 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



April, 



berries are but little extra labor, except taking 

 off the runners; the Potatoes should be dug as 

 soon as they are fit for market. Then the Straw- 

 berries are allowed to fill up the rows: keep the 

 irround clean, and by fall nice matted rows are 

 had with a good crop of fruit the next spring: 

 after picking, plow the ground and plant late 

 Cabbage or jSweet Corn.— Farm and Garden. 



Forest Trees for Ornamental Use, It is an ex- 

 cellent time of the year to dig from the woods 

 and transplant on the grounds specimens of our 

 hardy forest trees; but do not make the mistake 

 of too close planting, especially about the house. 

 Maples are always fine, and to this we may add 

 the Tulip Tree, Basswood, Elm and White Birch. 

 Walnuts, Black and White, and Butternuts may 

 be easU.T grown from seed, also Chestnuts. A 

 grove may be quickl.v grown from Locust seed, 

 and these trees, as well as the Basswood and Tulip 

 Tree, are especially valuable as honey producers, 

 —Orange County Farmer. 



The TTse of Coal Ashes. Everything grows well 

 under a mulch of coal ashes, provided that the 

 plant leaves are not covered, and that the ashes 

 be stirred after rains-during the growing season. 

 Without this they pack so as to exclude the air. 

 In planting the seeds we cover them with soil or 

 leaf mould. We have tried coal ashes, thinking 

 that the young seedlings might push through 

 the easily broken inch of ashes. But very rarel.v 

 has a plant appeared through such a covering, 

 because of too close exclusion of air, some 

 being indispensable at the moment of germin- 

 ation.— Chicago News. 



Dosing Elm Trees with Snlphor. >Ir. W. H. 

 Dodd. of New Jersey, says that he has thwarted 

 the attack of the Elm tree beetle by filling holes 

 bored into the tree in early spring with flower of 

 sulphur. His idea is that the sap carried the 

 sulphur into the leaves and Imparted a taste to 

 them which prevented the larvae hatched on the 

 leaf from eating the foliage.— Xew York Sun. 



Hardwood Sawdnst for Mtilch. This material 

 is good for Strawberries or any other kind of 

 small fruit, as it very soon decays so as to make 

 a substance very much like chip dirt. Rotten 

 wood or rotten logs make an excellent manure 

 or mulch for the berry family. Pine sawdust is 

 not good because it hardly rots at all and will in- 

 jure the plants, so many growers sa.v.— Gleanicgs. 

 Flower Diseases and Science. If only one-tenth 

 as much scientific attention had been given to 

 the diseases of florist's flowers as has.'been lavished 

 upon Pear blight and Peach yeUows, we would 

 not now be so deeply ignorant of what is of vital 

 interest. The florist business of America is 

 surel.v important enough to warrant scientific 

 recognition. — American Florist. 



Japanese Ivy (Jmpelopsis Veitthii) for use 

 along railroads is of value, as its clinging habit 

 serves to bind together loose stones and shaly 

 surfaces, thus protecting the sides of embank- 

 ments and cuttings, while in summer delighting 

 the eyes of the traveler.— Garden and Forest. 



As to Seedling Peaches. Michigan fruit growers 

 prefer the see<lUng ttees as crop producers. By plant- 

 ing the seed of the Smoct.SalwaT and similar varieties 

 they get trees that produce on an average quite as 

 good fruit as the original, and are themselves of 

 superior vigor, hardiness and longevity.— Delaware 

 Farm and Home. 



The Donble-fiowered Chinese Blackberry was 

 successfully forced last winter, producing wreaths of 

 white blooms resembling Polyantha Roses. But while 

 easily grown, it requires rather more room in a green- 

 house than will pay the commercial grower.— Garden 

 and Forest. 



A Hundred Forest Trees planted in suitable places 

 and cared for intelligently, will cause somebody at 

 sometime to rise and call you blessed— or. in a dozen 

 years or so, the trees may even bless you.— 

 Husbandman. 



An Advantage in using Walnut tr«es for shade, is 

 that in addition to the nuts, it is freer than the average 

 from insects, and during the summer, when resting 

 xinder a tree, this is quite an item.— Western Plowman. 

 Those who buy trees grown by any new pro- 

 cess will usually Jind that the main new thing consists 

 in the way that the agents get their money, and the 

 buyer the new experience.— Ohio Farmer. 



Tomatoes In Peach Orchard. As a crop foryoimg 

 Peach orchards, nothing equals Tomatoes, as they do 

 not exhaust the soil, and the vines give all the mulch 

 that the trees require.- Farm and Home. 



Early Beets and Radishes are among the most 

 profitable garden crops that the gardener can raise, 

 according to the expense, and no other vegetables 

 have so few enemies, — Indiana Farmer. 



Kohlrabi or Turnips. The drought last summer 

 showed that the Kohlrabi was superior to Turnips or 

 indeed to any other root crop for standing dry 

 weather— American Cidtlvator. 



Roses in Florida will grow on the poorest sandy 

 soils in the State: the secret of success being the use 

 of plenty of good fertilizer and budded plants.— 

 Florida Farmer. 



The G-ano Apple is attracting much attention, and 

 because of its merits we beheve that as a market 

 Apple, it has come to stay .—Nebraska Horticulturist. 



Manure and Apples. A Baldwin tree standing 

 where it gets the benefit of the house slops yielded 59 

 bushels laiJt year. — Green's Fnut Grower. 



We congratulate the American Pomological Society 

 on its excellent work and " independent organiza- 

 tion.''— London Garden. 



Gooseberries and Currants make a flue hedge 

 for dividing the lawn and garden. — Farm Journal 



The Northern Spy needs high culture and the fnUt 

 to be severely thinned —People and Patriot. 



Shanghai Plants are good ones to not buy. — Farm 

 and Stockman. 



Vegetable Products on the Table. 



Baked Parsnips. Put a few thin slices of salt 

 pork in a kettle with two quarts cold water. 

 Wash, scrape and quarter some Parsnips, and 

 when the water boils put them in and boil until 

 tender. Then turn the stew into a dripping-pan 

 and bake until nicely browned. 



Fried Parsley for Garnishing, Wash the 

 parsley and divide it into sprigs; then dry by 

 folding it in a clean cloth and squeezing tightly. 

 Then plunge it into boiling fat, letting it remain 

 not more than a minute, or both crispness and 

 color will be spoiled. Drain, and it is ready for 

 use,— Amateur Gardening, 



Apple Cake. Beat two eggs, add one cup of 

 sugar, beating well: add one half cup of milk , 

 alternately with two cups of flour in which two 

 teaspoonfuls of baking powder have been sifted; 

 then one tablespoonful of melted butter. Pour 

 into two jelly cake pans, cover each thickly with 

 thinly sliced Apples set up edge-wise, and 

 sprinkled with sugar. Bake until the Apple is 

 done, serve with sauce.— Xew England Farmer. 



Parsleyed Old PoUtoes. Peel, quarter and 

 wash as many Potatoes as required, boil quickly 

 in salted water until tender, strain and let them 

 steam for a few seconds over the fire: add a 

 liberal piece of butter and let it melt, and strew 

 over them some finely chopped Parsley, cover, 

 then taking the handle with one hand and 

 holding the lid down vrith the other, shake the 

 sauce-pan so that the Potatoes turn over a few 

 times, then serve.- American Agriculturist. 



Preparing Evaporated Frtiit. Rinse the fruit 

 thoroughly in clean water, then place in an 

 earthen dish, covered with water for ten to fifteen 

 hours before using. Then in this water which 

 contains the flavor and nutrition soaked out of 

 the fruit, simmer slowly, until it is cooked 

 through, adding sugtu- as required; sene either 

 hot or cold. In this way you secure a whole- 

 some dish, full flavored, greatly resembling the 

 original fresh product.— Calif omia Fruit Grower. 



How to Cook Spinach. Select rather small 

 leaves, cut off the roots. Wash and cook 1.5 to liO 

 minutes in water containing a teaspoonful of salt 

 to gallon of water: drain and when dry, chop 

 fine, season with salt and pepper; melt two ta- 

 blespoonfuls of butter, stir into it one of flour, 

 and let it cook, turn in the Spinach and let it 

 cook two minutes, then add one-half cupful of 

 milk. It is done when the milk is scalding. 

 Have ready, and when the Spinach is dished, cut 

 a couple of hard-boiled eggs in slices and place 

 over the top.— Prairie Farmer. 



Toast with Mnshroom. Take a quart of small 

 fresh Mushrooms and rub the tops well with a 

 piece of white flannel dipped in salt. Put them 

 into a stewpan containing three ounces of dis- 

 solved butter: season lilwrally vrith salt, cayeime, 

 and pounded mace, and stir over a gentle fire to 

 prevent the Mushrooms burning until the butter 

 is dried and slightly browned. Then add half a 

 pint of cream, or milk beaten up with the yolks 

 of two eggs, and the grated rind of a small 

 Lemon. Stew till the Mushrooms are tender, 

 but not allowing them to boil. Serve on small 

 rounds of bread which have either been toasted 

 or fried in hot butter squeezing a few drops of 

 Lemon juice over the top.— English Cook. 



Improved Boston Baked Beans. Wash a quart 

 of small white Beans, soak over night in two 

 quarts of water containing a teaspoonful of 

 soda. In the morning put them into fresh water 

 and let them simmer until nearly soft, add salt 

 and pepper, half a cupftil of well-flavored 

 brown sugar and a piece of nice butter as large 

 as an egg, stirring all carefully together so as 

 not to mash any over-soft Beans, Pour the Beans 



into an earthen baking dish, press a silver-skinned 

 Onion into the centre, and bake them steadily 

 for an hour, which will give them a rich brown 

 on top. There should not be water enough in 

 them to make them sloppy but have only such a 

 quantity of water on them as willevaporate by 

 the titne they are done. Serve with thin sliced 

 corned beef instead of salt jiork.— Farmer's Call. 



HOUSE PLANTS. 



Airing. All but the more tender plants can be fully 

 exposed for several hours on mild days, and even be 

 oecaslonallj- washed by warm rains, with benefit. 



Annuals. For early, transplant into boxes at an 

 inch or more apart, but encourage stocklness rather 

 than rapid growth, with giving them more air and 

 light. 



Begonia Weltoniensis. If given rich, sandy soll.with 

 fair watering, will thrive in the vtindow, making one 

 of the finest of spring bloomers. 



Bongainvillea. Keep in an upright position by means 

 of stakes. No check from drouth must be pennltted, 

 weekly appUcations of strong manure water inducing 

 the required vigor for bloom. 



Callas. Strong plants designed for later bloom to 

 receive manure water. Such as have bloomed through 

 the winter, should be planted In a rich bed May 1, 

 where they will shed their old leaves. Lift in August 

 and pot in very rich, well-drained soil. 



Carnations. Young plants to be placed in frames 

 and hardened off gradually before plantlng-out time. 



Ohrysanthemnms. Keep growing freely in a cool, 

 alrj- place. By properly hardening them off they may 

 be planted out among the earliest of tender plants. 



Cinerarias. Specimens of a desirable strain should 

 be Isolated from the inferior ones to prevent unfav- 

 orable mixing of the seed. 



Climbers in Pots. Cobjea Scandens. Maurandla and 

 the like now making their growth will very soon be 

 unshapely masses if not kept closely tied to stakes. 

 The earliest ones may also be cut back with benefit. 



Colens depend for beauty upon the colors of the 

 leaves being well developed; this can be helped by 

 keeping the plants rather dry and pot-bound. 



Droopers. For banging baskets, vases, etc., should 

 be increased by dividing or slipping such kinds as the 

 stock on hand may indicate. 



Fuchsias. Some varieties as Storm King do well if 

 not pinched back. With good pot room and careful 

 watering, a good show of bloom may be expected on 

 strong plants, manure water occasionally, using the 

 liquid rather weak. 



Geraniums. To gain space inside, the older plants 

 can go into frames or hot-beds plunged into the soil. 

 Keep well aired. 



Geraniums intended for summer bloom should now 

 be making strong growth. If at all backward, whether 

 from excessive watering or being pot bound, apply the 

 proper remedies. Cuttings for next winter's pot plants 

 to be pnt in. 



Heaths and hard-wooded plants generally should 

 have free ventilation as the.v come mto bloom. 



Heliotrope to be at the best, must have plenty of 

 pot room; manure water is also of great benefit. 



Hot-beds will need close attention as to airing and 

 shading to prevent an excessive degree of beat On 

 the warmest day the sash should be nearly removed. 



Lilies. Gradually wlthold water after the flowers 

 are past until plantlrig-out time, when, if given a rich, 

 well-drained soil, they will shape themselves for future 

 bloom. 



Mignonette Sow the seed where wanted to bloom, 

 as, ot nearly all plants, this transplants the worst. 



Petunias. Shoidd any of the older plants have be- 

 come unshapely, a severe cutting Imck will greatly 

 improve them for later use. 



Plunge the pots of plants in refuse Hops to reduce 

 fbe labor of watering; it is very helpful to plant growth 

 also. 



Propagation. For next winter's flowering 8tock cut- 

 tings may be made any time now. 



Richardia. Keep these growing freelj", the treat- 

 ment in general being as directed for Callas. 



Roses. Red Spider, Thrip, etc. . are now likely to be at 

 their worst. Syringe freely or sponge off the leaves. 



Transplanting The old tin fruit and vegetable cans 

 can be used instead of pots for bringing along early 

 stock, by .setting the plants in them, using good soli. 



Verbenas rcxited before April 15th make superior 

 plants by bedding time if grown in thumb pots and 

 plimged In a frame. 



