1 886. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



fully removed and the bulbs be potted in two and 

 three inch pots. The soil should be of equal parts 

 ^ood turfy, loam, leaf mould and peat. Start them 

 in a moist atiuosphere. of 00^ by night, afterwai'ds 

 incfeasiiig this ti.i 70^' for the main growth 



1^. Ivy Geranium. It requires no special treat- 

 mem dilTerent in winter from any other (Jeranium. 



GOOD THINGS GATHERED UP. 



Choice things bring a great price. Let each of 

 us see if we can produce what can't be excelled, 

 and must be appreciated — Home and Farm. 



Setting out Onions for seed in the fall saves a 

 great deal of time and is generally e^iually success- 

 ful with setting in the spring. — .-ij**. Ai/rirult}in'sf. 

 Selection of Varieties. The best writei-s upon 

 fruit-growing sa3- little or nothing about varieties, 

 now, knowing choice to be a very local question, 

 varying on each side of a road or creek, between 

 two seasons, or two different and equally correct 

 methods of treatment.— T/ie Cnurant 



Stopping a Large Hole with Putty. Take small 

 tai-ks and di'ive them into the hole in all directions, 

 the more crooks the better for the purpose wanted, 

 and then take putty, mixed soft and pliable, forcing 

 the same thoroughly all through and among the 

 tacks, then letting the first dose dry hard, after 

 which re-putty to the surface.— Carr»/(/e Monthly. 

 Cabbage Flavoring Milk. Do not believe the 

 statement that cows can be fed on Cabbage leaves 

 just after milking and the flavor of the Cabbage 

 will not gel into the butter This is the best way to 

 feed Cabbage to cows, but it is only a temporary re- 

 lief. If the cows are thus fed for several days the 

 flavor of Cabbage will get all through their system, 

 and it will injure the butter; it will require another 

 week to get it out again. — Agriculture. 



Botating crops and turning under vegetable 

 matter is maimring in itself, and is the best manur- 

 ing we can do: it is permanent if regularly kept up. 

 We see land that has been annually heavily and ex- 

 pensively fertilized with commercial fertilizers that 

 is getting more exhausted every year. I account 

 for it in this way, that the land lacks humus (de- 

 cayed vegetationt. and without humus manures do 

 but little i^e>(yt\.~Gi<)njiii Corr. Di.cie Fantier. 



The Apple Crop Abroad. A London Apple cir- 

 cular, from entirely reliable parties, confirms what 

 has alread,v been published about the failure of the 

 Apple crop in Europe. In England there will not 

 be above a quarfer of a crop. In France, though 

 there is a good crop in some sections, there will be 

 none to interfere with .\merican Apples in England, 

 Holland will have a good half crop, but they will be 

 * held at high prices all the season, by reason of the 

 demand from Germany. In Belgium early Apples 

 are in bad crop, late Apples in good crop, but a good 

 many are likely to go to Germany, where the crop 

 is a failure. From the above conclusions the circu- 

 lar ventures to say that the prospect for American 

 Apples is exceptionally good this j"ear. 



Orchard Success. In three years I improved the 

 production of my fruit trees from 15 to 2txi bushels. 

 as follows; I first reduced the top one-fourth; 

 then in the fall I plowed the soil toward the trees. 

 Between the trees I allowed the plow to run deep, 

 so that the water would settle away from them. In 

 the spring I hauled a fair quantity of manure, pul- 

 verized it well, and made up some hills, in which I 

 planted some Corn and Beans and I'nmpkins The 

 following spring I repeated this. My trees began 

 to grow very fast, and that fall I harvested 70 

 bushels of very good Apples. The next spring I 

 manured for the third time, planted it to Potatoes, 

 and harvested 200 bushels of fruit. I changed the 

 yield of a yellow Bell-flower tree from three-fourths 

 of a bushel to seven bushels From my experience 

 I am of the opinion that most trees have too 

 nuich top for the amount of roots, and a deficiency 

 of nourishment. I like fall or winter pruning. — 

 rni'linil Finin.r. 



Hardy Flowers. The fii-st reason why they 

 should be more cultivated is for their beaut.v. They 

 afford not only a great variety in habit of the 

 plant, but much diversity and beauty of foliage, 

 while the flowers present an interminable variety 

 in form and color. In time of blooming they range 

 from the earliest spring to latest autumn, and by a 

 projjer .selection a continuous bloom can be kept up 

 during the entire season. Another reason is their 

 permanence. When the foliage fades, or the frost 

 ends their career, that is not the last of them, but 

 we know that they will appear the following spring 

 in new strength and beauty. Another reason is, 

 they pay good diviilends. One can give away the 

 increase, and still be as rich as he was before; at the 

 same time he can do good to his neighbors and 

 friends by adding to their enjoyments. They are 

 but little trouble is a reason that will commend 



itself to many. When once planted they may 

 usually be left for three or four years, and in some 

 cases much longer. They are generally abundant 

 bloomers, and many are excellent for cut flowers.— 

 Wodlson a Cu.'.'i Catalogue. 



Oil and Sulphur for Mildew. .\ paint of Linseed 

 oil an<l sulphur apjp lied t.. pipes and Hues m the 

 greenhouse is a safe and unfailing remed,v for Kose 

 mildew. Precisely how much more influence oil 

 has over sulphur than water to prevent scorching 

 we ilo not know, but that it has more cannot be suc- 

 cessfidly gainsaid The facts which go to prove 

 this have been collected from various quarters and 

 are most convincing. The late W. Bennett, of Flat- 

 bush, informed me that in an extensive establish- 

 ment, over which he had control, there was a col- 

 lection of Rose-bushes literally infested with mil- 

 dew. At his request, the oil and sulphur remedy 

 was ajiplieil, and so strong that he feared every 

 plant would be destroyed. Instead of this, no harm 

 was done to a single leaf, whilst the mildew was 

 utterly subdued. Quite a number of similar cases 

 could be stated, all tending to show that there is 

 greater safety in applying sulphur with oil to heated 

 surfaces in greenhouses than with any other known 

 substance. The effect is magical. The odor is pe- 

 culiar, but not annoying, except perhaps to those of 

 very acute smell. —Corr. Gardeners' Monthly. 



Study Your Plants. To grow plants well it is 

 necessary to study them. If ,vou do this you will 

 soon find out what treatment they need, and you 

 will do this if you love flowers. If you do not love 

 them, and try to grow them simply because it is 

 '"the st.vle" to have plants in the house, the sooner 

 you give up the attempt the better, for you will 

 never succeed in having good plants. Be sure of 

 that. House plants are generally put out-of-doors, 

 in the summer. Some turn them out of their pots 

 into the open ground. Here the.v make a vigorous 

 growth, but when it comes time to take them up 

 and get them into pots for the house it will be 

 found that the roots have made a rampant growth 

 and a large share of them will have to be cut off. 

 This necessitates a corresponding cutting-back of 

 the top, and the plant is greatly injured at the very 

 time when it should be strong and vigorous. I pre- 

 fer to keep my plants growing in pots all summer. 

 I put them on a veranda, shaded from the hot sun 

 of mid-day and afternoon, and keep them there 

 from May to the last of September. When it comes 

 time to take them into the house they are not in- 

 jured by any violent change, and are ready to begin 

 their winter's work.- HammoHd's "H-ouae Pkuit.v." 



Fig Culture in the North. While I would not 

 wish to discourage others from trying the above, it 

 may not be out of place to give my experience at ' 

 Bluffton, Mo., asmuch in-reply to others, as to in- 

 form some correspondents why they need not ex- 

 pect plants from me, as was promised in case it 

 proved a success. Last fall a year I had about a 

 dozen trees from three to six feet high, of different 

 varieties. When the leaves were killed with frosts, 

 the trees were laid down and covered. In the spriug 

 they were all dead, excepting one. root and branch. 

 The live one grew pretty well, and last fall had a 

 nice crop of fruit on it. A French neighbor told 

 me these would ripen in the spring. Had I dug 

 up the tree and put it in a tub before any frost oc- 

 curred perhaps they would have stuck; but it was 

 left untd a few sharp frosts before tubbing and 

 putting it in the cellar. During the winter they 

 all dropped off but one. This spring the tub was 

 brought out and the tree soon started growing. 

 Soon one new fig started, which is now the size of a 

 small pear, and looks all right; but the old one 

 dropped off a few days ago, but not ripe. This tree 

 will most probably set a crop again in the fall, and 

 it it does, we will endeavor to put it away in time. 

 At best it is a mere matter of cnriositj-, and will 

 never pay one for the trouble here.— jTirf</e Millei; 

 in Rural World. 



A Great School Garden. The Arnold Arboretum 

 of Harvard College, Boston, contains lO.-i acres of 

 land, quite varied In character. This is within a 

 few nunules' walk of the Forest Hills station on 

 the Boston & Providence Railroad. The location 

 is such that the experiments here made will be of 

 general interest to a large portion of the whole 

 country. The Arboretum is yet in its infancy, 

 having been commenced only in 1874, when the 

 seeds of the first trees were planted; the coming 

 spring will see many of the botanical orders 

 planted where they are to remain permanently, 

 the planting beir.g as far as possible in botanical 

 sequence. Along the roadways will be planted 

 both native and foreign species, including all the 

 varieties, so that any one can at a glance see by 

 compari^on the plants which best endure our cli- 

 mate. The Arboretum will thus be a living 

 museum, where all may come for trustworthy in- 



formation regarding trees or shrubs. The collec- 

 tion of living plants at the Arboretum is richer in 

 species than any other in the United States, num- 

 bering at the present time over 2,000 species and 

 varieties of woody plants. Many of these may 

 prove failures; hut it is the work of the Arboretum 

 to show by living illustrations what to select and 

 what to avoid. The collection is being continually 

 increased by a .system of exchanges with gardens 

 in every part of the world within the temperate 

 zone. Experiments are being made, with the hope 

 that our list of hardy trees may be increased, which 

 has been done in several instances — fiVpoi t uf the 

 Mansachu.'fetts Horticultural Society. 



Cranberry Culture stands prominently among 

 our neglected industries. Consumers in the past 

 have been satisfied with the yield from wild beds, 

 but now with an increasing market at homi-and for 

 exporting those who have suitable land should 

 consider the advantages of cultivating them. The 

 first requisite is to secure a piece of land that can be 

 flooded iu winter, but from which the water can be 

 drawn in the spring. The plat should be snflicriently 

 underdrained or ditched to avoid holding water 

 stagnant near the surface. The surface should be 

 nearly level. Peat or muck bottoms are the best; 

 clay should be avoided. If there is a regular sod it 

 should be removed and two inches of fine sand 

 should bespread over the surface. If there is dan- 

 ger of weeds or grass this may be increased to four 

 inches. It is not necessary to obtain rooted plants, 

 as the Cranberry grows freely from cuttings. Some 

 make small cuttings, broadcast them over the plat 

 and roll; others advocate planting in rows. If the 

 soil is clean, broadcasting is probably best, as the 

 vines cover the surface sooner and thus prevent the 

 growth of weeds. Spring is the best time to set the 

 plants or cuttings. After setting, the water should 

 be kept near the surface and gradually drawn off 

 as they strike and grow. As to the annual flooding 

 this should be done about the flrst of Decend)er, 

 and the water drawn off gradually the follow ing 

 spring, from the flrst to the middle of :Ma.\-. If a 

 stream runs through the marsh, then in dry Weather 

 the flood-gates can be closed for a couple of days, 

 to supply needed moisture to the plants and destroy 

 insect enemies. The favorites are the Cherry anil 

 the Bugle. A small crop is often reaped the second 

 year from planting; a full crop the fourth. The 

 yield varies from IIXI to 200 bushels per acre. Large 

 growers reap the crop with rakes, but hand-picking 

 is preferable, as the berries bring a higher figure in 

 market.—.!. M Allan, in Canadian Horticulturi.it. 

 Autumn Planting. If trees and shrubs are 

 planted late in the fall the roots unavoidably 

 broken in the digging will have time during the 

 winter to become calloused, and will thus be ready 

 to throw out fibres in the spring and to withstand 

 later dry weather. If planted in October, the broken 

 roots will not only callous, but may throw out 

 small fibers, which will establish the tree or shrub 

 and make it safe against the cold of the winter or 

 the drought of the next season. To defer planting 

 until spring, and even of those who do not delay 

 their orders, some must inevitably be among the 

 last to receive their trees. Then again, last spring 

 there came in April unprecedented heat. From 

 the Kith to the 2.Mh the thermometer ranged from 

 77 to 88 degrees and deciduous plants sprang at 

 once into full leaf Many who had large grounds 

 to plant and had not yet sent their orders for trees 

 and shrubs were deterred from doing so and, with 

 new houses occupied, were obliged to look upon 

 naked grounds for a year Had they ordered the 

 previous autumn and, it not ready to plant, heeled 

 in carefully until spring, they would not have 

 been in this position. While the tree or shrub will 

 callous and form roots if carefully [that is firmly] 

 heeled in, as they will if planted permanently, yet. 

 if everything be ready, it is better to plant per- 

 manently in autumn because the ensuing rains 

 will settle the soil firmly about the roots and thus 

 prevent access to them of the hot air of a spring 

 drought. Autumn planting is especially necessary 

 with Roses, Larches, Japan Quince, Evergreen 

 Thorn, and other plants which become excited by 

 the flrst mild days of spring and, in that condition, 

 may die by transplanting. There are also a very 

 few plants, like Magnolias, Tulip Trees, etc., the 

 structural conditions of which make them succeed 

 best with spring planting. Among Evergreens, 

 Rhododendrons can always be planted advantage- 

 ously during September. Coniferous trees can 

 also be planted during the last days of August 

 and the flrst days of September, provided the sea- 

 son be a moist one and the ground in which they 

 are planted sufficiently near to the nursery for 

 them to escape heating in transit Other argu- 

 ments in favor of fall planting are the compara- 

 tive pressure of ganlen and other work in spring. 

 — S. B. Parsuns, in Xew York Tribune. 



