64 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



January, 



158. Garlic or Wild Onion. Two courses are open 

 forclearing land of this weed. First, take care to 

 cut the flower-stalks before the seed is formed; and 

 secondly, in showery weather, when the soil is moist, 

 the plants themselves should be pulled up and burnt. 

 It is not only for the sake of appearances that the 

 extermination of such weed pests is to be desired, 

 but in the interest <if the dairy as well, for the pro- 

 ducts of the latter are sometimes injured through 

 the cows using them as food. 



163. Insect on Honeysuckle. If F. C. D. will 

 hang some small bundles of moistened Tobacco 

 stems, such as he can get of any cigar-maker for 

 the asking, here and there underneath the foliage, 

 in summer. I think he will not be troubled again. 

 If the stems are not to be had, some small bags filled 

 with cheap smoking Tobacco would answer quite as 

 well, first soaking these in water before hanging in 

 the vine. Constant Reader . 



167. Kainit. This is a mineral deposit consist- 

 ing of a compound of the sulphates of potash and 

 magnesia, with the chlorides of magnesia and of 

 sodium (salt), and is largely used as a source of 

 potash for fertilizing and other purposes. It is 

 found near Stassfurt, Lepaldshall, etc., in Germany, 

 in which country its use as a fertilizer has become 

 almost universal. Thousands of tons are now also 

 exported to all parts of the world, inchiding 

 America. The chief value of this fertilizer is found 

 in the potash it contains, and which constitutes 

 one-fourth per cent, of the article. In the use of 

 Kainit, in order to allow the chlorine combinations 

 contained, which may be injurious to some plants, 

 to lose its effect, it is recommended that the ferti- 

 lizer be applied some months at least before the seed 

 is sown, as for instance, in the late fall for the fol- 

 lowing season's crop, thereby securing the benefit 

 of all rain or snow failing in the meantime, and 

 a consequent deep and thoro^lgh incorporation 

 of the Kainit ingredients through the soil— those 

 which are beneficial and nourisliing being within 

 ready access of all the roots and not confined in 

 single places. This method of applying Kainit will 

 prove itself highly advantageous, whether alone, or 

 in combination with stable manure, farm refuse. 

 phosi>hates or other fertilizing materials, and should 

 be strictly adhered to, unless quite impracticable. 



108. Asparagus Growing. We should plow fur- 

 rows as deep as i)<>ssible Iiy nmning both ways, 

 with a two-horse plow, and in bottom of this furrow 

 scatter well-rotted compost as freely as we couid 

 spare it. and on this set roots one foot apart and 

 (■over. Plough furrows 3 to 3 1-2 feet apart. We 

 know some advocate 3 feet each way, but to us it 

 seems like a waste of land We suppose because it 

 grows in its wild state near salt water, some ad- 

 vocate salt as indispensaV)le. but we have seen im- 

 mense crops where no salt was sown, but where 

 barn yard manure was freely used. Salt retains 

 moisture, hence is beneficial." A. M. Purdy. 



179. Best Market Pears for New York. I would 

 add the " Bussock." It is of fair quality, good 

 size, clear skin, and an abundant bearer. I think 

 the Kieffers grown south of New Jei-sey are of 

 better quality than further north. In fact those 

 grown in Burlington County, N. .1.. are of much 

 better flavor than those grown further north in the 

 same State. After a little this much-lauded and 

 abused variety will find its trup place among Pears. 

 C. W. Idell, 333 Washington St., New York City. 



181. Thrips on Fuchsias. Dissolve two ounces 

 of soft soap in warm water and add thereto a gal- 

 Ion of clean water, and either dip the plants in it or 

 syringe them. Thrips are the result of want of 

 vigor in the plants, or more frequently of a too arid 

 atmosphere. The two causes in conjunction will 

 bring on a bad attack. Fuchsias, if root bound, 

 need watering twice a day, and the foliage should 

 be freely syringed morning and evening, well damp- 

 ening down the floor and stages of the house. Fuch- 

 sias like a cool, rather moist, atmosphere, not 

 lasting in bloom when much exposed to sun. E.D.L. 



182. Heat for Stove Plants. For Dipladenias, 

 Eucharis. Crotons, etc., the winter temperature 

 should not be less than 60" by day and 55" by 

 night, but in spring, when making their growth, 

 they require some 10" more. The weather should 

 in a great measure determine the amount of heat 

 applied; thus, if the days are sunny and the tem- 

 perature rises to, say 80", the night temperature 

 may with benefit be raised accordingly, but in dull, 

 cold weather it is not advisable to apply more heat 

 than is just necessary to keep them gently moving. 

 In summer, when the days and nights are warm, 

 there is no need to make a fire, but when the even- 

 ings are chilly the pipes should he warmed. By 

 August the generality of stove plants have made 

 their growth and it is important that they ripen 

 their wood. This is especially the case with Alla- 

 mandas, Ixoras, Francisceas, and other plants 

 which are grown for their flowei"s. From the mid- 

 dle of August they should get plenty of air on fine 

 days, and no more fire heat than is necessary to 

 keep them in health Then they pass the winter 

 better and at a lower temperature than they other- 

 wise would. Old Gardener. 



193. Strawberries and Gregg Raspberries. 

 Plow strips 2 to 2 1-2 feet wide and leave strips of 

 Strawberry plants 1 to 1 1-2 feet wide. Cutoff all 

 weeds, stir up ground well with a fork hoe, and scat- 

 ter well-rotted manure among the plants. Yo»i can 

 trim Greggs at any time. A. M, Purdy. 



"^e Household 



Heavy, dingy-looking Oranges are the best. 



Home courtesy is an important element of life. 



Why not drop the i-unning store bill system this 

 year. 



Crackers baked until crisp are nicer for use with 

 oysters. 



Dough mixed with water requires more heat for 

 baking than that mixed with milk. 



In sunny Italy they have a proverb which 

 should be universal: "Where the sun does not 

 come in the doctor does." 



A Capital Idea. When making everyday gar- 

 ments, shirts, dresses, etc., cut an extra pair of 

 sleeves for each garment, make them and lay them 

 aside. Then when the sleeves need mending, re- 

 move them and put in the new, saving the best part 

 of the old ones for patching at the last. 



Mending in Advance, If the fronts of overalls 

 are made double to six inches below the knee, then 

 when they wear through the patch is already set. 

 By inserting a patch just on the knee, and when the 

 part wears through cutting the outer piece of the 

 front away neatly, close to the seams, adds greatly 

 to the length of time a garment n ill wear, and saves 

 much mending. 



Raisins for the Table. These in a stewed state 

 make a wholesome dish, acting also as an aperient, 

 and are to be recommended. Stone a pound of good 

 raisins, and add a teacupful of cold water; let them 

 soak in this all night, and then put them into a lined 

 stewpan or jar in the oven, and cook slowly until 

 quite tender. They may be eaten warm or cold, 

 with a slice of whole-meal bread. The commence- 

 ment of breakfast is the best time to eat them. 



Children's toys are provided by all good parents, 

 but we may as well teach a useful lesson along with 

 the pleasure they yield, and which will make them 

 all the more enjoyed. We have found that a box 

 large enough to hold all the children's playthings, 

 and low enough to slip under the table, is a great 

 help in keeping a room neat. If a child is taught 

 that he must never go out or to a meal, or to bed, 

 without first picking up his toys, he will soon take 

 great delight in domg it neatly, and it will be as 

 much play to him as anything else. Blocks are the 

 cleanest toys and seem to furnish the most fun. 

 Mechanical toys that are always getting out of 

 order only make a child ill-tempered, and the very 

 ease with which he can pull them to pieces teaches 

 him to be destmctive. If you paper the toy box in- 

 side and cover it on the outside it will not be un- 

 sightly. Fasten the lid on with a pair of hinges, 

 and stuff and cover it. 



The home should have a "Medical Bureau'' of its 

 own. Accidents and ailments, while they may 

 not be serious, require prompt attention. The 

 following is a plan of such a fixture as I hope to 

 have in my own house some day : At the height of 

 the chair rail have a broad drop-leaf attached ; 

 above this have a cupboard, which may be let into 

 the wall. First above the shelf will come a drawer 

 about six inches deep, to contain old sheets, etc., 

 for bandages; next above maybe one to contain 

 small bandages, flannels, and the like; above this 

 will be drawers, to contain corks, adhesive plasters, 

 sticking salve, and measuring appurtenances, and 

 one part with close doors shall contain mustard, 

 camphor, peppermint, salts, ammonia, liniment, 

 etc. The upper shelf should hold a box with a spring 

 lock, on the lid of which is placed in plain letters, 

 " Poison." and in this all articles of a poisonous na- 

 ture will be kept. Elder's Wipe. 



Apple and Almond Pudding.— Take about three 

 pounds of apples, two ounces of sweet almonds, one 

 gill of cold water, the whites of two eggs, four 

 ounces of fine sugar and a little lemon or orange 

 marmalade. Put the water and three onnces of the 

 sugar in a preserving pan and stir til! it boils; put 

 eight of the apple peeled and cored, but not split, 

 into the syrup, and cook till soft, but do not let them 

 break. Lift the apples carefully on to a flat dish, 

 and fill that part where the core was taken out with 

 marmalade Pare, core, and stew the remainder of 

 the apples till soft, then press all through a wire 

 sieve; pile this pulp over the apples, and make 

 smooth with a knife. Beat the whites of the eggs 

 to a very stiff froth, sprinkle in half an ounce of the 

 sugar, and spread this froth all over the top of the 

 apples. Dredge on the remainder of the sugar and 

 stick the almonds— previously put in boiling water, 

 skinned, and cut in long thin strips— very thickly 

 and neatly all over the whites of the eggs. Put the 

 pudding in a slow oven until the almonds take on a 

 delicate golden tinge. Use hot or cold. Practice. 



Poviltry. 



Cocks are at their best when two years old. 



For nice feathers feed a little flaxseed at times. 



Choose your breeding stock carefully; imperfec- 

 tions are likely to be perpetuated; blood will tell. 



Coarse bones in fowls indicate coarse meat. A 

 coarse-meated fowl is a poor thing side of a fine 

 juicy-meated one. 



It is possible that old hens may be too fat to lay; 

 not so with pullets. Feed them abundantly. Even in 

 the case of old hens less laying goes on as a result 

 of under than of over-feeding. 



Ducks and Water. I find it easier to raise them 

 where they cannot get to a large body of water 

 than where they can. All the water mine get is a 

 small pond fed from a distant spring. A. M. Lang. 



Using Carbolic Acid. The Farm Journal says 

 that in doing the usual cleaning in the poultry 

 house and yard it is a good thing to use crude car- 

 bolic acid in the whitewash. The way to mix the 

 acid with the wash is to put the acid in hot water 

 and slake the lime with this. A dry slake may be 

 made and the acid mixed with the lime flour. The 

 former however is the better way. It is useless to 

 try to mix the acid with whitewash after it is made. 



Working with Young Fowls. This would be a 

 good motto for the hen house door on the inside: 

 "Keep your hens but one year, and no 'tough 

 fowls' will haunt your dreams." There is no 

 trouble to get fowls to lay a second year, but 

 put such points as feeding through the moulting 

 season, age for marketing, reduced laying powers, 

 etc., together, and there is a serious question 

 whether it would not always pay best to market 

 them at a year old or slightly more, than to keep 

 them longer. 



The Food, and Egg Flavor. If it is not realized 

 how the former affects the latter, let one but mix 

 onions with the feed to-day and the flavor of the 

 eggs to-morrow will show him. But there would 

 be nothing unwholesome in such an onion flavor in 

 eggs; itwould be merely unpleasant. There might 

 be this wholesome lesson learned from the experi- 

 ment, however: flavors that are unhealthy and 

 nauseous may be imparted in the same way. Force 

 your fowls tq feed on the manure pile and drink 

 impure water that contains stable leachings and we 

 will not, if we know it, dine with you on their eggs. 

 Where the food is of an improper character the 

 product cannot be all that is desirable. 



Hatching Chickens in January. It is one of our 

 nice Brahma hens that is going to do the hatch- 

 ing, and she is under one of the benches m the 

 greenhouse. When I put her there she would not 

 sit down on her nest; but after I took thirteen eggs 

 out of my pocket, and placed them beside her, she 

 took her bill and pushed them under with great sat- 

 isfaction, and sat down as motherly as one coul i 

 wish. When it came breakfast time, however, she 

 got into one of the boxes of lettuce plants, and don't 

 you believe she made them fly? Some of them 

 must have hit the glass overhead; and after she did 

 the same thiug next day, Mr, Weed, the gardener, 

 wanted to have her discharged for bad behavior. 

 We didn't, though; we just put some poultry net- 

 ting around her, and now shesits in one corner, and 

 sits equal to any new-fangled incubator. She 

 started New Year's day, so the chickens ought to 

 hatch out on the 21st. A. I. Root. 



Care of Layers. How A. M. Van Auken, a corre- 

 spondent of the ^mericoji ii'armc?-,believes in caring 

 for them is told as follows: Make yoiu" layers take 

 exercise, not as much as the breeders, but still 

 enough to ward off disease. One-half the feed for 

 my layers is ground. The natural mill of a fowl's 

 gizzard is capable of grinding all sorts of grain, 

 but it is at a considerable expense of muscular 

 force. All the ground feed is cooked. I should 

 cook all. only a part raw is preferred by the fowls 

 and they need it to keep them busy. The cooked 

 food is placed in a trough, with slats over the top, 

 to prevent the fowls from scratching it out and 

 dirtying it. The unground grain is so placed that 

 the hens must scratch in order to get it. This is ac- 

 comphshed by burying it slightly in the ground in 

 summer, and in a pile of chaff or cut straw on the 

 floor of the poultry-house in the winter. The fowls 

 should also be supplied with some vegetable and 

 flesh food every day in the winter. The best way 

 to get this is to feed Turnips, Potatoes, Cabbage- 

 leaves, etc. For flesh, butcher's waste is my staple, 

 but I often get worthless fish, which are both cheap 

 and, for this purpose, good. Anything that is ani- 

 mal food will do, and where one has but few fowls, 

 and can get skim-milk, he need look no further. 



