1889. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



265 



Euphorbia jacquiticeflora should be repotted early 

 this month, and strong shoots be pinched back to In- 

 duce bushy growth. 



Hanging Baskets and Vases. Give liquid manure 

 once or twice a week. Loosen up the soil oi-caslonally 

 by means of a sliarpeiieil stick, and keep trim by re- 

 nioviuK dead and decaying foliage. 



Lawn. Cut moderately now until fall rains start 

 the grass Into new growth. 



Lilies. Unless it Is desired to save seed, cut away 

 seed vessels as flowers fall In order to strengthen bulb. 

 Pick off caterpillars. 



Lilium Candidum. Bulbs may now be taken up, 

 separated and replanted. 



Pansy. Sow seed for spring flowering in nicely pre- 

 pared cold frame, covering with white-washed sash or 

 muslm frame. 



Propagation. Many kinds of ornamental shrubs 

 can now be increased by layering. 



Pruning. Exces.sive and unshapely growth of shrubs 

 on the lawn to be pinched back. 



Rhododendrons, Remove all seed ves.sels. 



Stakes. Provide them for all plants needing them 

 to guard against Injury from fall winds. Use neat, 

 natural stakes rather than the painted ones. 



Verbenas to be pinched back as needed. 



PLANT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



Achimenes delight in warmth anil moist atmos- 

 phere. Roots must not be allowed to get dry. 



Bedding plants of choice klnd.s or where large 

 stock is desired for next season, may now be propa- 

 gated from cuttings. 



Chorozemas and similar hard-wooded plants to be 

 repotted as needed; leading shoots to be pinched back 

 occasionally. Sponge off daily, and water thoroughly, 

 but not tflo often. 



Chrysanthemums Intended for show should have 

 the Sdil rcniDveil from top of pot and replaced by some 

 rich compost, stake and tie as needed. 



Climbing Vines. Syringe freely to guard against 

 insect pests. Train and remove dead twigs, leaves, 

 etc. oive manure water freely. 



Diosma Fragrans. Treat like Chorozemas. 



Ericas, Epacri, etc. Directions for Chorozemas will 

 apply. 



Ferns to be repotted as required. Give water to the 

 r<X)ts freely and keep In warm, moist atmosphere. 



G-eraniums for winter bloom to be held In check. 

 To provide plants for house use next spring begin 

 propagating by cuttings now. 



Greenhouses. Inspect sashes, heating apparatus, 

 etc., and repair where needed. Make all preparation 

 for fall. Provide stock of soil, sand, pots, moss, and 

 all other requisites. 



Gloxinias when done blooming to be removed to a 

 cold frame, preferably placed over a bed of coal ashes. 

 Shade sashes heavily and gradually lessen amount of 

 water given. 



Repotting. Old pots should be soaked and washed 

 clean, and new ones provided when needed. Repot all 

 plants that are likely to require it, so that they become 

 well established before cold weather sets in. Give 

 good drainage and set the plant in center of pot. 



Rhyncospernum jasiminoides. To destroy Insect 

 pests wash the leaves and branches thoroughly with 

 soapy water as soon as the plants are done flowering. 

 Repot as needed. 



Seeds. Sow of ten-week and intermediate stock for 

 winter bloom. Smilax for next year's plants. 



FRUIT GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 



Apple Trees. Discontinue cultivation at end of 

 month to prevent late growth. Keep newly set trees 

 well mulched. Remove superfluous shoots and pinch 

 in the new growth of all trees to Induce development 

 of well shaped heads. 



Blackberries. Pinch back the new canes when about 

 four reet high, and the laterals at about fifteen inches. 

 Cut out and remove the old canes. 



Budding of Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, etc., may 

 now go on. Watch the ligatures, and cut them 

 promptly as .toon as stock and bud have become united. 



Commission Dealer. Select one that you have con- 

 fidence in, and stick to him year after year so long as 

 he treats you well. It is not a good practice to ship to 

 more than one party In the same place. 



Currants- Thin out suckers. Remove superfluous 

 wood. Keep bushes well cultivated and free from 

 weeds. 



Gooseberries. Treat same as Currants. 



G-uarantee cards, with the shipper's full name and 

 address, guaranteeing contents of package of good 

 unlfonn quality, may be put inside of every package 

 of really first-class fruit. 



Insects. For aphis dip the affected twigs into a 

 strong decoction of Tobacco stems or other Tobacco 

 refuse, or spray the trees with it. Hunt up the Apple 

 and Peach tree borers and kill them. Also put a band 

 of tarred paper or a mound of coal ashes around the 

 base of each tree. Destroy the nest of the fall web 

 worm. Gather caterpillars on Grape vines. 



Marketing. Early varieties of Apples and Pears 

 now ready should be picked before they have softened 



at all. Pack according to the rules of your market, 

 always taking care to have the fruit firm In the pack- 

 age so It cannot shake and become bruised in transit. 

 Peaches when picked for market shouhl be in that 

 condition that they will be In a state fit to be eaten by 

 the time or soon after It reaches the consuiner. Over- 

 ripe fruit must be consumed at home, or disposed of 

 to canuers, evaporators, etc. 



Packages, crates, half barrels, baskets, etc., should 

 be provided in advance, be bright and clean, and Just 

 of the kind most popular in your market- Each pack 

 age to be plainly and neatly marked with the grower's 

 name and address. 



Plum Knot. Remove affected limbs, or cut the 

 warts off with a sharp knife, and apply linseed oil Ui 

 the wounds. 



Raspberries. Treat as directed for Blackberries, 

 unless It Is desired to Increase stock of plants. In that 

 case allow the shoots to grow at will, then fasten the 

 tips to the ground by means of wooden pins, small 

 stones, or a little soil, etc.. and leave undisturbed until 

 the plants are ready for taking up. 



Sorting. All tree fruit should be assorted and packc<l 

 in three grades. Have same size and quality from top 

 to bottom. Face top layer, turning each specimen 

 that the bright side appears uppermost. Neatly round 

 off the top. Never ship anything as flrst class unless 

 it is strictly so. 



Strawberries. Keep beds well cultivated. To make 

 new plantations now let runners form into thumb pots, 

 and when well rooted, remove to permanent beds. 



Thinning may yet be done for late fruit. Remove 

 all the Inferior specimens, and especially those showing 

 signs of worm attacks. For exhibition fruit select a 

 thrifty branch, and remove one half or two-tlilrds 

 from it, leaving only the finest specimens. 



VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



Asparagus. The bed must not be allowed to become 

 overrun with weeds. 



Scans for snai>s may yet be sown for succession. 



Broccoli and Brussels Sprouts. Cultivate frequent- 

 ly and hoe deeply. 



Celery. Finish setting plants for winter and spring. 

 Handle the self-bleaching varieties for fall use, and 

 cultivate and hoe all frequently, but shallow. Appli- 

 cations of fertilizer along the rows, and a light mulch 

 around the roots are of considerable benefit. 



Chervil. The Tuberous sort can now be sown. 



Corn Salad. Sow In drills a foot or fifteen inches 

 apart. Keep weeds down by the frequent use of 

 wheel hoe. 



Cresses. For succession sow every two or three 

 weeks in shallow drills one foot apart. 



Cucumbers. The fruit whether for Pickles or Cucum- 

 bers must be gathered at least every other day. Cut 

 It off with a sharp knife or pair of scissors, never pull 

 or tear it off. Specimens can be allowed to ripen on 

 the vines only at the loss of part of the green crop. 

 While gathering the crop, pull up any stray weed that 

 may show Itself. A last sowing may yet be made first 

 week of this month. 



Cultivation. Keep the ground between all crops 

 that do not yet cover the ground, well stirred by means 

 of cultivator, hoe or rake, and kill every weed to be 

 seen. When one crop is removed from any part of the 

 garden, plant another at once. This continuous crop- 

 ping should be kept up all through the season. 



Corn. Remove all ears or tops affected with smut, 

 and destroy them. 



Cabbage. Cultivate and hoe deeply. A top-dress- 

 ing of some good fertilizer around the plants will be 

 beneficial. 



Endive. For a succession sow at intervals, then 

 thin to one foot apart in row, or transplant to that dis- 

 tance, in rows fifteen Inches apart, in rich soil, and tie 

 up and bunch as wanted for use or sale. 



Leeks. In hoeing draw the soil up to bleach them. 



Lettuce. For succession. If desired, sow every two 

 weeks. 



Melons. Specimens setting towards last of the 

 month, that can not be expected to mature before 

 frost, may be pinched off carefully. Otherwise do not 

 disturb vines more than is needed . 



Onions now begin to ripen. When the tops get yel- 

 low and fall down, pull and gather In windrows, or 

 place In thin layers in a dry shed to cure Then re- 

 move the tops, where needed, and store the bulbs in a 

 cool dry place. 



Peas of the earliest sorts are sometimes sown this 

 month for a late fall crop. But It is an uncertain one 

 except under unusually favorable conditions. 



Potatoes. Harvest the early sorts as soon as ripe. 

 Store In a cool dark cellar. 



Radishes. Continue to sow summer sorts for suc- 

 cession. Also sow winter sorts at once. 



Spinach. Sow for late fall crop. 



Sweet Potatoes. Cultivate and hoe, lifting the vines 

 off the ground to prevent them from striking root. 



Seeds. Select the earliest and most perfect speci- 

 mens of Tomatoes and Egg Plant, alsii the earliest ami 

 best filled pods of Lima Beans for seed. 



Turnip. Sow the quick growing flat Strap-leaf sorts 

 in drills one foot apart, A dressing of superphos- 

 phate- in the drill is very beneficial to this crop. 



Tomatoes. The prompter the ripe ones are' picked, 

 the faster the crop will develop and ripen. Pick off 

 all the imperfect or spotted specimens you happen U» 

 come across. Look out for, catch and destroy the green 

 Tomato caterpillar. 



FRUIT AND VEGETABLES UNDER 



GLASS. 



Figs. Ulve water bountifully U* the roots durlug hot 

 weather, and occasional application of liquid man ures- 

 If allowed to get dry, the plants are liable to drop 

 most or all their fruit. 



Grapes. Give air freely to earliest houses, and keep 

 vines In a state of rest. In Intermediate houses free 

 air, but no water should be given. Late houses re<iulre 

 to be kept as cool as poslble. Syringe freely. Fumigate 

 once a week. 



Gaavas in tubs or pots should not become dry at the 

 roots, or the fruit wUl drop off. Thin fruit where set 

 too thickly. 



Strawberries. Keep the plants, potted last month, 

 In a cool, airy, half shady spot, and In a vigorous grow- 

 ing condition. 



Tomatoes. Seedlings or cuttings for winter forcing 

 may now be started in four or five-inch potS' 



THE POULTRY YARD. 



Ventilation. Keep the poultry house weU ven- 

 tilated and thus insxire healthy fowls.— The 

 Poultry liaiser. 



Care of Turkey Chicks. Keep those late- 

 hatched turkeys i?rowinj? rii?ht alonj?, and they 

 will make fine market birds, and bring a good 

 price along the latter part of February and the 

 forej>artof March.— Am. Farmer. 



Late Chickens. They should be well fed and 

 well cared for in every way, else they will never 

 pay for raising. When kept coitit*>rt;ible and 

 well fed, late-hatched pullets wil! l.r ready to lay 

 next spring when the earlier-hatched pullet-s are 

 taking a rest.— Am. Farmer. 



Save the Best for Breeding. Don't market all 

 the hens that are over one year old. It is from 

 well matured parents that the most Aigorous 

 otf springs come. So select the most vigorous 

 and motherly for next season's breeding stock, 

 and don't try to force them to lay egjjs dunng 

 the winter; they will be ready to lay earlier and 

 produce more vigorous stock if allowed to rest 

 until the breeding season opens.— Ind. Farmer. 



Remove Broken Eggs. Egg shells shotild 

 never be given to hens as they will learn the vice 

 of egg eating therebv. When an egg is broken 

 in the nest or yard it should be removed as soon 

 as discovered. A hen seldom begins to eat egg 

 shells until she finds one broken by accident, or 

 until she becomes accustomed to egg shells that 

 may be thrown in the yard.— Mirror and Farmer. 



Preparing Fowls for Market. The dry process 

 is quite superior to the old scalding practice. As 

 soon as the fowls are killed and while their 

 bodies are yet warm, the feathers can be pulled 

 out quickly and easily, and are more valuable 

 when saved in this condition, and the flesh ot the 

 fowl seems to be cleaner and presents a more 

 attractive appearance when marketed, which 

 has much to do with the price obtained. 



Save the Hen Manure* If you will give only 

 one-seventh the attention to your hen manure 

 that you do to collecting the eggs it will help you 

 a long way on the feed bill. Make a bin large 

 enough to store the manure. Before you wish to 

 use it have the wash water saved on wash days 

 and dampen it slightly, stirring it up with a hoe 

 and working it well. By the time you wish to 

 use it, it will be nicely pulverized and a rich ter- 

 tilizer. If you choose you may add land plaster 

 or muck but do not add horse manure to it.— 

 Cor. Orange County Farmer. 



Apoplexy Among Fowls. A fowl taken at 

 first with lameness, and which in the course of a 

 day or two will st;^^^^■■pr about, make a rush for 

 the food aad stumble ever it, with an appetite 

 always good, is troubled with apoplexy. Bleed- 

 ing, by opening a vein under tlie wing and feed- 

 ing on light food willlbe helpful and in some cases 

 will eflfect a cure. It is i)ussil)le, however, that 

 this may be one of the results of a long course of 

 in-breeding, by which the constitutional vigor 

 has been impaired. Possibly too much meat has 

 been given or the hens may be too fat and if a 

 warm breakfast gives place to a diet of Oats and 

 Wheat in equal parts or better still Barley, the 

 chances are that there will be a mai'ked improve- 

 meut.— Cor. Farm and Home. 



Market Quality of Fowls. If every farmer 

 would raise only the best (piality of poultry for 

 market and abandon the dunghill altogether, a 

 higher price and greater demand for poultry 

 would be the result. Coarseness of flesh and 

 dryness are qualities to be avoided. The tine- 

 boned, plump juicy fowl will always command a 

 high price. When a customer once secures a 

 carcass of good qualitj- he will certainly inquire 

 for more of the same kind, and with many the 

 price paid will be no object. Farmersshould use 

 the Dorking a seitson, then follow with the Pit 

 Game for a cross. If this course of alternating 

 with a Game and Dorking or other large breeds 

 was inacticed every year there would be a great 

 demand for such birds, and it would pay well to 

 those raising them.— N. H. Mirror. 



