1889. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



Geraniums are now blooming freely. Remove all 

 deeaye*! leaves and faded flowers frequently. Loosen 

 the surface of the bed, especially In dry weather, and 

 wat^T freely. All plants when In bloom need more 

 moisture than at other times. 



Hibiscus can be easily propagated from cuttinRs of 

 lialf-rlpened wtx)d. 



Justicia carnea. CuttiuRs of the half -ripened wood 

 root readily. 



Lawns to b** mown frequently except in a hot. dry 

 time, when too close euttinp will be IujuiIou>. If crab 

 grass gets into the lawn it should be mown as soon as 

 tall enough ta cut and before it produces seed. Docks 

 and other large weeds nmst be pulled by the roots 

 when the ground Is wet aud soft. 



Mulching. Dry. pulverized soil malces a most 

 excellent muU-h. Keep surface of flower beds well 

 stirred especially after a rain. 



PiBonies. If seed of these and other hardy plants is 

 not wanted, eut the clusters away as soon as out of 

 flower. Seed production taxes the vltalltj' of all flow- 

 ering plants more than flowering does. 



TillaBe. The surface of all beds and borders should 

 be frequently stirred, by means of hoe or rake, espec- 

 ially after each rain. This not only keeps the ground 

 open and free from weeds, but also adds greatly to the 

 general attractiveness of the premises. 



Violets. Keep well cultivated and free from weeds. 

 Water during dry. hot weather. 



Watering, If done at all must be done thoroughly. 

 A mere sprinkling is worse than useless. Nothing 

 short of actual soaking will have a lasting beneflclal 

 eflfect. As scx>n as the surface Is dry enough after 

 water is applied, it should be stirred thoroughly 

 with a rake or hoe. 



PLANT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



Caladiums to be kept In a warm, moist situation. 

 and as close to the still shaded glass as possible. 

 fJraduallyshirt Into laiger pots to obtain fine specimens. 



Camellias. The soil in pots often dries out before 

 we are aware of It. In a bad case plunge the pot in a 

 tul> of water until thoroughly soaked through. 



Cinerarias. Shift the newly started seedlings into 

 larger pots. Each plant should stand by Itself, so that 

 the leaves of one will not touch those of the next. 

 Water as needed. 



Cuttings may be made of Geraniiims, Pelargoniums 

 and other house plants, also of rare bedding plants, if 

 a large stock for next spring is desired. 



Gloxinias to be kept in a warm, moist situation. 

 Water thoroughly when needed, without wetting 

 foliage. They should never be allowed to suffer for 

 want of water. 



Green fly can be kept off Cinerarias, etc., by scatter, 

 log TobEK'co stems freely among the plants. 



Greenhouses. There will hardly be a better time 

 than now to repair and clean plant houses. Replace 

 lights where broken; scrub brick and wood work 

 thoroughly and otherwise get house in shape for stock- 

 ing up. A neat and attractive appearance should be 

 maintained all through the season. 



Gymnogrammas. commonly known as Gold and 

 Silver Kerns, need a warm, moist situation. Water 

 the rw^ts thoroughly but do not wet the tops, as this 

 not only destroys their beauty but often the plants also. 



Liquid manure may be given occasionally and with 

 l>e«eflclal '•esults to Harden berglas, Marantas, Lemon 

 and orange trees, Strelltzias, etc. 



Pelargoniums, after blooming, should be allowed to 

 become rather dry, then trim into shape and remove 

 til a half-shady place. Do not water them until the 

 wounds are healed and new growth has commenced. 



Primulas in cold frame to be kept cool and watered 

 sparingly. 



Red Spider. Syringe the plants freely every bright 

 sunny day towards evening, and fumigate frequently 

 to subdue red spider and green fly. 



Watering should be carefully attended to during 

 the heat of the present month. No growing plant 

 must be allowed to dry out at the roots. 



FRUIT GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 



Blackberries. Directions for Raspberries will apply. 



Budding can be performed as soon as well-ripened 

 buds can be had and the sap In the stock flows freely. 

 Reject all soft immature buds, as for instance those at 

 the extremities of twigs. Remove ligatures when the 

 bud has become firmly united with the stock. 



Currants. Remove all weak and superfluous branch- 

 es after fruit has been gathered. Give a liberal dress- 

 ing of g(X)d barnyard compost, then keep the ground 

 well cultivated, and the plants free from worms. 



Gooseberries to be treated as directed for Currants. 



Mulching. A few inches of well pulverized soil— In 

 other words thorough and frequent cultivation- 

 answers all the purposes of a perfect mulch. A light 

 covering of bug hay, straw, coarse manure, or litter of 

 some sort, and even stones, will do for a mulch, where 

 cultivation cannot be freely given. 



Pruning. Remove superfluous shoots on all fruit 

 trees, and pinch back those growing rather too rank 

 especially on Peach and Fear trees. In order to equalize 

 the growth and give the trees a symmetrical appear 



Raspberries for table use to be picked by hand. 

 When Intended for evaporating the berry harvester 

 should be given a trial. Cultivate the lunne market. 

 Late growth of cane need notbefeared.especlally with 

 the red varieties, since this apparently Immature 

 growth generally winters well. Hence cultlvatlou 

 need not stop on that account. Pinch back the ends 

 of canes and laterals. 



Strawberries. In the south a fair crop may l>e 

 grown from plants set In fall before. The earlier such 

 plants are set the better will be the crop. In the north 

 the Hrst crop Is hardly ever sufficiently large to make 

 fall planting profitable, even where potted plants arc 

 used. If this method Is to be tried, plant just as s<K)n 

 as potted plants can be had. Old beds overrun with 

 weeds had better be plowed up. The new plantations 

 are to be frequently cultivated aud kept free from 

 weeds. In hill culture the runners must be removed as 

 soon as formed. In the matted row system they nmst 

 be confined t« a reasonable width of row, allowing 

 space between the rows for cultivation. Always run 

 the cultivat^ir in the same direction between the rows. 



Thinning. Peaches and Pears, where too thickly 

 set, can yet be thinned, and this should be done at once 

 and severely in order to secure superior size and 

 quality of the crop, and therefore the best returns in 

 dollars and cents. 



VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



Asparagus. Stalks should now be allowed to grow 

 unmolested until autumn. 



Beans. Bush varieties may yet be grown for succes- 

 sion. Cultivate and hoe all earlier plantings fn' 

 quently but never w-hen wet with rain or dew. Where 

 vines of the pole varieties have missed the pole or 

 trellis assistance should be given. 



Beets. Repeated sowings of the early table sorts for 

 succession are yet In order. 



Cabbage. Set plants for late fall and winter use In 

 well manured and well prepared soil. Cultivate and 

 hoe plants already established frequently. Apply 

 buhach when the green worm makes Its appearance. 



Carrots. Keep well cultivated and free from weeds. 

 Thin where needed. In an emergency sowings can 

 yet be made, especially of the earlier sorts. 



Celery. Plants can be set during this month for 

 fall and winter use. Get good, strong, stocky plants, 

 and set In moist soil, If In cloudy weather all the bet- 

 ter, and In a hot. dry time towards evening. Pack the 

 soil firmly about the roots. Shading for a day or two 

 will secure a full stand even during a hot dry spell. 

 White riume Is a good self -bleaching sort, and best for 

 early use. Golden Heart can be recommended for 

 general crop. 



Corn. To have tender boiling ears until the first fall 

 frost, repeated plantings may yet be made. The Ever- 

 green variety win have time to ear if planted In the 

 early part of the month. 



Cucumbers for pickles should now be planted In 

 warm, rich soil. Protect from bug attacks by keeping 

 vines dusted with plaster. Cultivate and hoe freely. 

 Let no specimen mature on the vines, and remove 

 fruit by cutting off with sharp knife or scissors. 

 Pulling it off is apt to Injure the vines. 



Cultivation should be given freely to all crops. 

 Keep the surface of the whole garden stirred to pre- 

 vent rapid evaporation in day weather and to Insure 

 freedom from weed growth. Thin plants where too 

 thick in the rows. 



Egg Plants must be kept coated with the Paris 

 green mixture for Potato bugs. Hoe crop frer4uently. 



Endive. Sowings to be made for succession. The 

 bed should be well prepared. Have plants standing 

 about eight inches apart In the row, and when the 

 leaves are six or eight Inches In length, gather up over 

 the heart and tie with some soft material to blanch. 



Kohl Rabi. For fall use plantings may be made 

 the latter part of the mouth. 



Leek. In cultivation draw the soil up to the plants 

 to bleach the lower part well. 



Lettuce. For succession repeated sowings may yet 

 be made. Deacon and Salamander are good sorts for 

 summer as they stand the heat quite well. 



Melons. Guard against injury from bugs. Cultivate 

 well and hoe often. Applications of washing suds 

 during dry weather seem to be greatly relished by 

 the plants. 



Okra. Thin to eight or nine inches apart in the 

 row; otherwise treat like Corn. 



Onions. Use wheel hoe freely, and allow no weeds 

 to grow. One or more small rations of nitrate of 

 soda, or a top dressing of some rich compost, especially 

 of hen manure, between the rows, may be given at 

 this time, and as a rule, with great benefit to the crop. 



Parsnips. Treat like Carrot. 



Peas. Remove the vines after the crop is gathered 

 and plant the grouud to Cabbages. Turnips. Celery, etc. 



Pepper. Plants can yet be set In open ground. 

 Apply composted hen manure to the growing plants, 

 hoeing it well Into the soIL 



Radish. Sow for succession, and the late sorts for 

 fall use. 



Spinach. Sow for succession at Intervals of a week 

 ort^mdays. Firm the ground well over the seed. 



Squash. Cultivate aud hoe freely . Covorflrst joints 

 of vines to make them strike root. 



Tools. Keep sharp and bright. 



Turnips. Sow the Ruta Baga varieties at <mee, the 

 ither sorts by last of month. 



FRUIT AND VEGETABLES UNDER 

 GLASS. 



Figs, kept In pots and tubs need thonmgh watering, 

 pn-fcrably with lUpild manure. 



Grapes in early houses will now be fully ripe, and If 

 kept cool and dry can be had In perfection f<»r a long 

 time. In intermediate hiuises the ;ilr should be kept 

 dam]i until the black varieties are nearly coloi-ed when 

 moisture should be less freely given. Late houses 

 shouhi be dampened regularly every morning. Keep 

 shoots tied to trellis; thin where needed. Avoid cold 

 draughts of air through the building. 



Peaches grown in pots or tubs in cold houses 

 need frequeul syringing aud applications of manure 

 water twice a week. 



Plums and Nectarines. Treat like Peaches. 



Sashes i>f frames and vegetable forcing houses are 

 now out of use and should be stored under cover. 

 Repair where needed aud paint at the earliest oppor- 

 tunity. Good care of expensive requisites pays well. 



THE POULTRY YARD. 



The Average, seven chicks to each setting? of 

 eg-jrs is cnnsidered a ^nod averaitre batch. 



Empty the Fountains. Don't allow watrr to 

 stiiiui in them over night. It quickly gets ira- 

 preynateil with poison from the confined atmos- 

 phere.— Maryland Farmer. 



Watering Chicks. During the summer old 

 fruit cans eut down and nailed up to a post or on 

 the side of a poultry house or floor will make 

 j?ood places to supply water.— Am. Farmer. 



Floor for Poultry House. The best tloor is ce- 

 ment ; then use plenty of dry soil as a deodorizer. 

 Or, if the dry soil has not been provided when 

 winter comes, use sifted coal ashes. 



Fresh Eggs in Demand. Assure your custom- 

 ers that your eggs ai'e collected daily, and only 

 from your own yards, and you can dictate the 

 price. To test this, go into the market and try to 

 procure eggs known to be strictly fresh. 



Remedies for Insect Fests. Bubach and Ker- 

 osene are the never-failing remedies for insects 

 that intest fowl houses, the Itubach to be dusted 

 through the feathei-s of the fowls, the Kerosene 

 to be sprayed all over the inside of the house. 



Beans for Fowls. There is little food of a more 

 nutritious character. Let them be boiled soft 

 and nuished with Potatoes and a little mciil. 

 Farmers having a quantity of old Beans luifit lor 

 the table can thus utilize them.— Md. Farmer. 



Feed and Care, It is not the breed so much as 

 the feed ; it is not the feed so much as the care, 

 but the better the breed, the better the feed, 

 and the better the care the better will be the re- 

 sults. Luck has little to do with it. National 

 Stockman and Farmer. 



Procuring New Breeds. O. S. Bliss says, iu 

 the New York Tribune, that if one wants to in- 

 troduce a new breed there is more economy aud 

 satisfacti(m in buying a trio or pair than in buy- 

 ing eggs. There is satifaution in seeing what the 

 parent stock is. He who begins with an egg has 

 to "• go it Mind " to a certain extent. 



Unprofitable to Keep. It is poor policy to 

 keep over till late in the fall a large crop of 

 lusty cockerels, if there be a market for them 

 early in the season. They consume a great deal 

 of foo<l until maturity, and will not increase 

 much in value from broiler size, unless one 

 get a good price in the fall.— Nat. Farmer. 



Broken Bones for Fowls. Laying hens are 

 very fond of broken bones. They help to digest 

 other food when they cannot get at sharp gravel, 

 and with the strong digestive apparatus which 

 fowls have, every part is made use of. The only 

 advantage from biu-ning bones is to make them 

 break up more easily. The fowls certainly do 

 not like them as well, nor are they so good for 

 them as when broken up without burning. 

 Amateur Cultivator. 



Little and Often. It is not expected that the 

 farmer should be everlastingly fussing with 

 chickens, and coaxing them to nibble some 

 choice and dainty food. All they want for health, 

 growth aud good condition is plain, nutritious 

 food, fed often and a little at a time to suit their 

 digestive organs. Early aud late is a good rule 

 iu feeding. Alter chickens are one-third or one- 

 half grown, coarse and bulky food may Ite 

 mixed with grain to good advantage, it will not 

 pay to feed costly food to chickens intended for 

 market. National Stockman aud Farmer. 



Fattening Chickens. Build a coop with slat- 

 ted bottom and elevate two feet from the ground. 

 Let the house be dark. Put holes in the front so 

 the Ibwls can put their heads through and eat 

 and drink from troughs ou the outside. Fill one 

 trough with water, one vrith feed and another 

 with gravel, broken oyster shells, etc. Feed 

 scalded, or slightly boiled corn ; the latter is the 

 best, and mix with lard. Also give Indian meal 

 and boiled Potatoes, mashed together, for a 

 change, as well as Oats, boiled meat, or meat 

 scraps, throe times a week. Occasionally give 

 milk, with powdered charcoal in it, to drink. 

 The latter whitens tlesh.— Germantown Tclcg. 



