1887. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



95 



plants too early in th« fall, others get in a great 

 hurry and remove the covers too early in the 

 spring. We say don't. A protected bush or plant 

 is necessarily rendered more delicate in a dfgree 

 because of protection. To uncover it and submit 

 it to the harsh winds and biting frosts certain to 

 come after the first spring-like days is to assume a 

 great and needless risk. To be safe at the North 

 better wait until well along in April before remov- 

 ing the winter coats. 



More about Nitrate of Soda. Last month Mr. 

 Joseph Harris, farmer, seedsman and author, spoke 

 in these columns on the use of this new fertilizer 

 on lawns. Since then we have received the Joseph 

 Harris Seed Company's Catalogue, and in this we 

 find further interesting information from the same 

 gentleman's pen on how to use the article for var- 

 ious crops, where to procure it and on some other 

 points. We are also told that this valuable in- 

 formation will be given free to all who apply to the 

 above firm. The address is Rochester, N. Y. It 

 would be well to mention Popular Gardening. 



SmaU Fruits for a GraveUy Soil. Mr. N Amer- 

 man of Washtenaw County, Mich, finds pleasure 

 in reporting as follows on what he calls "The Sur- 

 vival of the Fittest," in his garden. The soil of the 

 garden, he says, is gravelly, and it gets very hot 

 and dry. Moreover, the past season, and upon 

 which his report is based, was one in which there 

 was a "terrible' " drought. "The Sharpless and Cres- 

 cent Strawberries stood the test, as did also the 

 Cumberland Triumph. Of Raspberries. Cuthbert 

 did the best of three varieties, the two others be- 

 ing the Doolittle and the Gregg. The Lucretia 

 Dewberry is a fine thing ; it stood the drought and 

 bore an immense crop of fruit." 



Gardening for Women. There is nothing better 

 for wives and daughters, physically, than to have 

 the care of a garden— a flower-pot, if nothing more. 

 What is pleasanter than to spend a portion of every 

 day in working amongplants, watching their growth 

 and observing the opening of their flowers, from 

 week to week, as the season advances? Then how 

 much it adds to the enjoyment to know that your 

 own hands have planted them and have pruned and 

 trained them— this is a pleasure that requires neither 

 great riches nor profovmd knowledge. The advant- 

 ages which woman personally derives from stirring 

 the soil and sniffing the morning air are freshness 

 and beauty of cheek and brightness of eye, cheer 

 fulness of temper, vigor of mind, and purity of 

 heart.— H. B. Stowe. 



Thinks It is Not a Fish Story. Mr. B. P. Estes 

 of Sumner County, Tenn., would inform Judge 

 Miller and others that the origin of the Wild Goose 

 Plum, from a pit that was found in the crop of a 

 certain wild goose, is not so flshy as some would 

 suppose. He assumes to name its originator, and 

 also to give some account of its history. Where 

 the trouble in dealing with this Wild Goose Plum 

 matter comes in is this : The variety is but an im- 

 proved form of the Wild Chickasaw Plum, that is 

 found growing in Arkansas and elsewhere. But 

 there are numerous and quite distinct varieties of 

 the same kind of Plums in different localities, and 

 following quite naturally on this fact, there are of 

 such Plums many which are respectively claimed to 

 be the only true and original Wild Goose Plum. 



Guard Against Crowding Now. Many a flor- 

 ist's stock, most promising in appearance in March, 

 has come out a failure in May because of over- 

 crowding. A healthy plant will advance so much 

 in size between the two months that unless really 

 ample provisions is made for growing space for 

 each individual, there must be serious suffering. 

 One point very deceiving in the case, is that plants 

 too much crowded will not reveal this fault to the 

 inexperienced eye until the real damage has been 

 great, the upper and outer leaves exposed to the 

 light as well as to the eye being the last ones to 

 indicate the true condition of things. So give all 

 plants ample space. It is vastly better to have 50 

 strong, healthy plants in a given space than 100 

 drawn up, leggy, and soft-wooded ones, that can 

 never mature into sturdy specimens. 



Chrysanthemums not on the Wane. Mr E. H. 



Cushraan of Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, informs us that 

 he quite agrees with Mr. Henderson that Chrysan- 

 themum culture is not on the decrease, but just 

 the reverse. He says: " While wealthy amateurs, [ 

 as well as commercial growers, have with vigor 

 been booming them for the past few years, the : 

 flower loving ruralists in general are but fairly tak- j 

 ing up their culture. I believe these beautiful 

 flowers will grow and bloom about thousands of > 

 homes where they have not yet been cultivated 

 under their modern name. I want to say also that j 

 they are among the very best of plants for local 

 horticultural societies to grow for exhibition. The ! 



Eastern Cuyahoga (Ohio) Society tried it last sea- 

 son, and now 'Chrysanthemum Day' is looked back 

 to with pleasure, and forward to with renewed in- 

 interest. My advice is for all interested in such 

 matters to grow and to exhibit them." 



Annuals are, taken all in all, among the best of 

 flowers which can be used for the decoration of 

 the gardens of the people, and this is the season in 

 which to make provision for the summer and au- 



PLANT OF THE MADAGASCAR PERIWINKLE. 



tumn display. When such plants as Geraniums are 

 used, they require a great deal of attention to keep 

 them during the winter ; or where there is no 

 means of doing this, and an attempt is made 

 to buy them, they cost comparatively a great 

 deal of money, and, after all, it is a question if 

 they succeed in making a good show ; but 

 it is quite different with the annuals, as a great 

 many choice varieties may be bought for a little 

 raonej' , and besides seed for one's own sowing is 

 easily saved They are from first to last not only 

 easy of culture and sure of growth, but they pro- 

 duce gorgeous masses of the most lovely flowers 

 imaginable The blossoms include forms of pecu- 

 liar shape, all shades of colors, and exquisite 

 fragrance. Indeed, the modest Mignonette, to say 

 nothing of the Sweet Pea and Nasturtium, of this 

 class stands with hardly a rival among fine flowers 

 as regards the last named quality. 



The Madagascar Periwinkle. The common 

 Periwinkles, rmcamtnor, V. major, etc. ^ are among 

 our most desirable hardy plants, and very useful 

 also in pot and vase culture as trailers. The Mada- 

 gascar Periwinkle is classed among greenhouse 

 plants, but it may not be generally known that it is 

 a useful summer bedding or a pot plant. When 

 grown from seed, treating it like an annual, it is 

 of upright growth with heavy, finely- veined leaves 

 that are evergreen, and decidedly handsome. Still 

 of this class the flowers are considered the main 

 attraction. These are of simple form, fine texture 

 and pleasing colors. The favorite variety is the 

 one herewith figured, F'mca alba, and this has white 

 flowers with a deep crimson eye. V. rosa is rose- 

 colored with a dark eye; T'. alba pura an exquisite 

 pure white variety. The fact that these Peri- 

 winkles are usually grown as greenhouse plants 

 should prevent no amateur who is without a green- 

 house attempting their culture Let them be 

 treated, fi'om the seed (it may be bought from the 

 leading seedsmen) precisely like the Balsam, and 

 it will flower about as early and for as great a 

 length of time as will that favorite. 



Fashion In Flowers as noted by our ! 

 New York Correspondent. 



Some of our leading florists are using Stags-horn 

 Fern a great deal as a house plant. Growing on a 

 block it may be hung in a wmdow, and does ad- 

 mirably if laid in a basin of water to thoroughly 

 soak every now and then. It is handsome with a 

 Pathos trained over the stump on which it grows. 



The best way of keeping Orchid blooms in a store 

 is to take a dish and fill it with good sphagnum, 

 then pour in water until the moss is almost afloat, 

 making an artificial swamp. Lay some Asparagus 

 or Ferns on the top, and then, making apertures in 

 the moss to receive the stems, put the Orchids in 

 this and they will keep fresh longer than any other ■ 

 flowers in existence. I 



One of the prettiest small foliage plants for use I 

 in table decoration is a new Maranta from a Ger- | 

 man grower, M. Bachemania. It is a little low- 

 growing thing with satiny, light green leaves marked 

 with black, and it bears moving, gas light, and all 

 the other things that kill decorative plants, with 1 



positive indifference. It is charming mixed with 

 Ferns for a table plateau. 



At a great private party ball recently the favors 

 were particularly pretty. They were arranged on 

 two large screens, and consisted of wreaths and 

 bells. One screen was covered with the belts, some 

 of which were Violets with Rosebud clappers, others 

 Lily of the Valley tied with pale green ribbons. 

 The wreaths were of Ivy, tied with clusters of spring 

 flowers. The boutonnieres, which are much larger 

 than they used to be, were of Gardenias, Violets. 

 Lilies and Hyacinths. 



Now that Orchids hold a recognized place among 

 cut flowers, it is well to know which are most valua- 

 ble for keeping qualities. An experienced florist 

 says that Laelia anceps is the poorest keeper of 

 them all; it is never safe to send it any distance. 

 Masdevallias and Odontoglossums when they be- 

 come flabby may be thrown into a basin of cold 

 water, and they soon crisp up and keep much better 

 after their bath. Cattleyas would be ruined by 

 such treatment, but they are admirable keepers, 

 and will withstand the effects of gas after pot Ferns 

 in their company have become blackened. 



One of the most artistic arrangments for table 

 decoration seen for a long time was at the dinner 

 given by Mrs. Secretary Whitney to the artist 

 Munkacsy. Down the centre of the table was a 

 Turkish scarf of unknown antiquity, dull red in hue, 

 here and there relieved by sparing embroidery of 

 tinsel. This was framed by a wreath of Lygodiums 

 and fine Ferns. On this was laid a fragrant chain of 

 La France and Mermet Roses, alternated by Parma 

 Violets. This garland was continued around the 

 decanters and epergnes. Four large bunches of 

 American Beauty and La France Roses were at the 

 comers of the scarf. These were afterwards given 

 as favors. 



The coming event in the fioricultural world is the 

 great Orchid show to be given by Siebrecht & Wad- 

 ley about the first week in March. It is to be held 

 in the Eden Musee, which, though of course not as 

 large as the places where some of the great shows 

 have been held, is very conveniently arranged, and 

 a very pretty place. Rose Hill nurseries make an 

 extraordinarily fine display of Orchids, but of 

 course the proprietors will call on other growers for 

 co-operation in this novel enterprise. There will be 

 both gi-owing plants and cut flowers, and as back- 

 ing, some remarkable foliage plants. Palms and 

 Nepenthes. Nepenthes always attract the unbot- 

 anical public by their bloodthirsty reputation, as 

 well as by their oddity. There are to be absolutely 

 no Roses at this show; this is in itself a novelty. 



The most elaborate decoration ever seen in Del- 

 monico's was for an indoors " garden party " given 

 by some prominent members of Hebrew society. 

 The great ball-room was turned into an imitation 

 garden. Half way to the lofty ceiling, about twelve 

 feet above the floor, was a temporary roof, made 

 of wire and piping, which was slightly arched 

 toward the center, and completely massed with 

 Hemlock branches, so that it looked like a thick 

 forest. In the center was a huge sun of red and 

 yellow Immortelles, surrounded by Pampas Plume 

 rays. Here and there were stars of Immortelles. 

 At the entrance to the room was a i-ustic picket 

 fence with gate leading into the room, the fence 

 trimmed with Ivj'. By this were banks of flower- 

 ing plants. The walla about the mirrors were 

 massed with Hemlock, and the mirrrors draped with 

 Bougainvillea and other flowers; large Palms and 

 rustic seats were disposed at intervals. At the end 

 of the room, opposite the door, were masses of fine 

 Palms, a pretty fountain, and a log house, in which 

 was a realistic gardener; not in flesh and blood, but 

 in wax. Surroundings of Virgin Cork and band- 

 some plants gave a charming effect. The whole 

 decoration was extremely elaborate, and reflected 

 great credit on the taste and ingenuity of the florist. 

 Emily Louise Tapun. 



REPLIES TO INQUIRIES. 



il=)A. Currant Leaves Infested. Syringe with a 

 handpump, using awash, made as follows: Onetta- 

 spoonful of I'aris Green stirred into a twelve-quart 

 pail of water, using just enough to wet the leaves. 

 Apply early before the lice appear, simply wetting 

 the leaves. A. M. P. 



216, Covering Grape-vines. The only objec- 

 tion to the use of manure for covering Grape-vines 

 is that it makes a harbor for mice, and the mice 

 are apt to gnaw the bark off from the canes. It is 

 necessary to cover the roots as well as the canes. 

 It prevents breaking the roots by heaving. D. S. M. 



218 Gladioli from Seed. I have never had 

 Gladioli seedlings blossom in less than three years 

 here at Watertown. N. Y. I have heard that 

 where there is a longer season, some plants, if 

 started with heat, blossom in two years. D. S. M. 



