1887. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



135 



water with safety. But whenever water is given to 

 pot plants, enough should be employed to wet the 

 soil thorougrhly. and the difference between plants 

 that require less or more water should be made by 

 watering more or less frequently, and not by giving 

 greater or less quantities at one time. 



Deppe's Oxali8(0xa//s Deppei) is thus referred 

 to in a note from our correspondent Mrs, E B. 

 Dickinson, Hampshire Co , Mass.: "Last summer 

 I had a large bed of Geraniums of various colors, 

 and edged with these. The bulbs were set about 6 

 inches apart in May, and the foliage soon formed a 

 round, unbroken border, until the frost came The 

 bright salmon pink blossoms well above the foli- 

 age made the bed very attractive. The leaf is 

 four lobed. bright green with a chocolate tone. If 

 the bulb never bloomed the leaf is handsome 

 enough to pay for cultivation. After frosts I lifted 

 and stored the bulbs as I would Gladiolus." To 

 which we may add that let one but get a start with 

 this bulb and he will never want for planting stock. 

 A single bulb has been known in ordinarj' culture 

 to reproduce itself a hundred and fifty fold in one 

 season. In the north where any bulbs remaining 

 in the ground would get winter killed the plant is a 

 safe and desirable one for culture; in the warmer 

 Southern States they would soon prove to be 

 decidedly troublesome. 



Natural Gas is the Fuel. So believes florist 

 Albert Williams, of Sharon, Pa., as the following 

 letter to us shows: "I came out from my breakfast 

 the other morning when the mercury was 13° below 

 zero, and found my greenhouses in apple-pie order, 

 so far at least as temperature goes. I retired the 

 night before at 9 o'clock, and as I have no fireman, 

 the fire just had to run itself, which it did, and 

 always has when the gas is turned on. I have never 

 lost an hour's sleep since I began its use, and to say 

 that I am pleased with it is putting it mildly. I 

 have 9,500 feet of glass, and I use a Tifft Locomotive 

 boiler with 37 2-inch flues for generating steam, and 

 can so regulate the fire as to maintain a pressure of 

 six pounds of steam for 48 hours in the coldest 

 weather without varying in the least, and this 

 steady heat is just the thing for Roses that are be- 

 ing forced There is no dust, no ashes, nor any dis- 

 agreeable odor arising, and taking all together it is 

 the greatest boon imaginable, to florists in particu- 

 lar, and if any florist is handy to a gas line he stands 

 in his own light when he refuses to use it." 



Our Sentiment Exactly. One reason why we 

 so rarely publish any of the thousands of kind let- 

 ters that come in from our subscribers concerning 

 the value of Popular Gardening, is the want of 

 space. As it is, our columns are always crowded. 

 But right here we must take room for one letter, 

 which so exactly corresponds with our sentiments, 

 and seems so well fitted to help the good cause in 

 which the paper is engaged, that it should be 

 printed. It is from E. G. Sayles. Berkshire Co.. 

 Mass. " Of four papers we take yours suits us 

 best, because it is a paper for the people by the 

 people. The many articles and notes in every de- 

 partment, and especially among the Inquiries and 

 Replies, right from the hands of the people them- 

 selves, are what I like the best. The wTiters freely 

 speak out or ask in a way that usually leads to 

 practical information. In style as well as in name 

 it is popular." To which we add: We are bound 

 always to find room for all items and inquiries 

 bearing upon gardening information. Even many 

 more such from our readers would be welcome. 



Tri-colored Geraniums. The beautifully marked 

 foliage of that class, which embraces the Golden 

 Tricolored. Silver Leaved and such oddly varie- 

 gated kinds as the Happy Thought Cieraniums. 

 make them among the most valuable of ornamen- 

 tal plants. There is one peculiarity of the class, 

 however, which we incline to think is not sufficiently 

 recognized by amateurs who are restricted in plant 

 cultivation to the window and the veranda. We 

 refer to the fact that the very condition of retarded 

 growth usually present here is one that is condu- 

 cive to developing the leaf -beauty of these, provided 

 the plants are not otherwise misused. Given the 

 dry air of the average window garden, along with a 

 well lighted position next to the glass, and a degree 

 of beauty may, with good treatment in other re- 

 spects, be reached for these that would be herd to 

 excel by any other accommodationsprovided. What 

 the term good treatment in their case additionally 

 implies is the use of clean, porous and rather small 

 pots, light, well-drained soil, and moderate water- 

 ing always. While plants of this class should oc- 

 cupy a very light place, still the direct and fierce 

 sunshine of spring and summer ought to be modi- 

 fied as much at least as a thin intervening shade of 

 white paper would sen'e to do. 



The Niagara or Mooney Plum. When in re- 

 sponse to an inquiry about this Plum, a member of 



our staflE last month expressed ignorance concerning 

 the variety, he acted on the best of his knowledge 

 as based in part on not finding it offered in the 

 fruit catalogues of numerous leading nurserymen. 

 But we are glad to note that the information which 

 was lacking or was unavailable to our scribe, has 

 been promptly supplied by several of our many 

 wide-awake readers, who do so much towards mak- 

 ing this journal the valuable medium of information 

 it is. We gather from these sources that the 

 Mooney, or as it is more generally called, the Niag- 

 ara Plum, has been under culture for some years, 

 and enjoys a very excellent reputation wherever 

 known. It is supposed to be of Canadian origin 

 and is described as being large, hardy, early and 

 very prolific. It resembles the Bradshaw, but is 

 hardier. A point especially aimed at in the reply 

 referred to, was the guarding of the reader against 

 investing in highly lauded novelties offered by un- 

 known agents, but which are as yet not generally 

 in the hands of rehable nurserymen. And this is a 

 very safe course for all planters to, as a rule, pursue. 

 However, the writer referred to would now be ready 

 to plant the Niagara Plum, with confidence. 



Pelargoniums, or Lady Washingtons. When 



well grown under glass, these plants as easily cap- 

 tivate the plant buyer's money as any plant that 

 a florist may offer. They look so robust and stately, 



the new growth begins to push rapidly, repot 

 as required. Always water lightly. The common 

 mistake of too much moisture leads to an excess- 

 ive leaf growth, which is fatal to free bloom. For 

 Green-fly sprinkle with tobacco powder or fumigate. 

 As the new flowering season approaches tie the 

 branches somewhat outward to stakes tlirust in at 

 the rim of the pot. for admitting air and light into 

 the head of the plant. Pelargonium culture may 

 be in some degree difficult; the reward, when it 

 comes, is large in proportion. 



FLOWERS OF PELARGONIUMS, MUCH REDUCED, 

 the flowers are so large, rich in coloring, beauti- 

 fully penciled and blotched, and so exquisite of 

 texture, that for a lover of flowers, with money in 

 hand to invest in plants, to resist buying is next to 

 impossible. The fact that they are "a kind of 

 Geranium" is another argument in favor of the 

 purchase, for who does not succeed in growing Ger- 

 aniums, hence why should not every one succeed 

 with this magnificent, healthy looking class? The 

 purchase made, the plants are carried home, en- 

 joyed, watched over and tended with a view to 

 their present and future usefulness, but in spite of 

 close care nine times out of ten no amateur suc- 

 ceeds in ever getting a good second crop of flowers. 

 They may give enjoyment for a time, but so often 

 disappoint in the end. Why is it that amateurs 

 thus fail so commonly with this plant in window 

 culture? That it can be grown in a light bay or 

 other wmdow has been repeatedly proven. That it 

 is more difficult to grow here than in a greenhouse 

 no one denies. Let us outline some of the con- 

 ditions vital to its successful culture. First of all 

 be it borne in mind that the Pelargonium is not in the 

 nature of an everblooming plant. It throws off a 

 grand crop of flowers during a few months, and 

 that is all. For the remainder of the year all treat- 

 ment should be centered towards preparing it for 

 the blooming stage. The pots used are, for one 

 thing, very often much too large. An 8-inch pot. 

 inside diameter, should grow a plant four feet in 

 diameter, with the assistance of some liquid man- 

 ure. After flowering the plant must be rested and 

 ripened off by exposure to the sun and giving only 

 enough water to prevent the wood from shrivelling. 

 In this period of midsummer rej»t many err by ap- 

 plying water freely, as they would to ordinary 

 Geraniums. In September let the soil become quite 

 dry, then cut back all of the current year's shoots 

 to within from two to four eyes of their startmg 

 place. The soil should after this yet remain mod- 

 erately dry until new shoots an inch long have been 

 formed. Then shake the old earth from the roots 

 and re-pot into pots two inches smaller, using good 

 light soil well enriched with rotten manure. A 

 chief point is to pot very firmly; they delight to 

 have the soil made quite sohd. From now on keep 

 only moderately wet. and during winter give the 

 lightest place possible and about 45* of heat. As 



How Flowers Are Being: Used In New 

 York. 



Some ingenious but artistically depraved florist 

 recently produced a pink Lily of the Valley, the 

 unfortunate flower being artificially colored. It 

 might be slightly pretty, but a person who would 

 use dyed Lily of the Valley would be ready to 

 whitewash the Venus of Milo. 



The spring show of the New York Horticultural 

 Society, to be held in the Eden Musee the last week in 

 April, is expected to call out a good many novel- 

 ties. The new and energetic president, Mr. Spaul- 

 ding, offers a fine silver vase for the best new 

 design, an inducement which should call out some 

 clever creations. A week previous there is to be a 

 show at Orange; without doubt both exhibitions 

 will display the usual new Roses. One of the recent 

 things in this line is a seedling between Baroness 

 Rothschild and Mme. Falcot; it is of a yellowish 

 pink, and quite a large flower. 



It is probable that the fashion of hanging a floral 

 wreath on the door of a mourning house, instead 

 of the stereotyped crepe, will be extensively fol- 

 lowed, since it was suggested by the Beecher 

 family. A crescent wreath of Leucadendron leaves 

 tied wiih ribbon is lovely and appropriate. 



The flower trade did not seem to languish greatly 

 during Lent, though there were few large enter- 

 tainments and realty no weddings of any note. 

 The florists were saving their ingenuity for Easter 

 decorations, which grow more elaborate every 

 season. A few years ago only the Episcopal and 

 Roman Catholic churches made any display on 

 this day, but now all the religious bodies seem dis- 

 posed to follow their example. Palms. Azaleas, 

 and Deutzias seem the standard plants for such 

 work, and of course Callas, Lilies candidum and 

 longiflorum take first rank among flowers. Nat- 

 urally showy rather than fine flowers are neces- 

 sary in this work. 

 Pretty Easter souvenirs were filled with flowers in 

 great variety. Spring flowers are most appropri- 

 ate—Daffodils or Narcissus, Tulips and Primroses. 

 An old yellow hamper filled with Daffodils and 

 strapped with yellow ribbons makes a very spring- 

 like gift. At this season floral gifts are all the 

 more charming if they have a sort of woodsy sug- 

 gest iven ess. 



As spring advances there is usually a little Trail- 

 ing Arbutus in the market, and it is wamily appre- 

 ciated by those who love flowers for their own 

 sake. No flower could be more charmingly appro- 

 priate for filling a pair of baby's boots, for the 

 Arbutus i< just like a botanical baby itself. A pair 

 of cute little boots filled with woodland flowers is a 

 favorite gift to a newly-made mother. 



The gipsy hat on an easel still remains in high 

 favor, as a flower basket; it is also made the recep- 

 tacle for a plant. A pot of Daffodils in a dull green 

 hat, with a mingled silk scarf draped loosely 

 around the pot, has a distinctly aesthetic aspect. 



Fashionable women seem disponed to reduce the 

 corsage bouquet for the street to a single handsome 

 flower. One fine. long-stemmed Hybrid Rose has a 

 really handsome effect, and seems in better taste 

 for street wear than a large bunch. But with even- 

 ing dress elaborate floral garniture is the rule, 

 though the perishable quality of natural flowers 

 renders them often unsatisfactory. A berthe or 

 plastron of natural flowers greatly enhances the 

 beauty of a bodice, but skirt garniture is really a 

 mistake. The favorite buttonhole bouquet is a 

 round bunch of Violets about the size of a dollar. 

 It is more than pretty; it is British. But we rarely 

 see a man on the New York streets wearing a 

 Camellia in his buttonhole, and this is even more 

 truly British than the Violets. 



It is noticeable now that our florists are always 

 eager for anything novel and striking, or in any 

 way out of the beaten track. The ordinary run of 

 florist's flowers. — Koses, Carnations. Violets, and 

 the like- must be supplemented by anything that is 

 strange. Pancratiums, Vallotas, winter-blooming 

 Amaryllis, and all such showy flowers, have sold 

 this winter, whereas formerly a commission man 

 would hardly handle such stuff 



Emily Loiise Taplin. 



