2l8 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



■ Septemrer, 



SLfth. The improvement of roads, though of 

 great importance, has secured less attention from 

 these associations, as the town authorities usually 

 care for them, and other objects are more urgent. 

 Seventh. The improvenient of roadsides is at- 

 tracting much attention. Some towns clear them 

 of brush and rubbish, and keep them Mke a lawn. 

 Others are adorning them with extensive lines of 

 trees. Nothing can add so much to the beauty and 

 attractiveness of our country roads as long avenues 

 of fine trees. One sees this illustrated in many 

 countries in Europe, where, for hundreds of miles 

 on a stretch, the road is lined with trees. Growing 

 on land otherwise running to waste, such trees 

 yield satisfactory returns. The shade and beauty 

 are grateful to every traveler, but doubly so to the 

 owner and planter. 



Eifjhth. Increased attention is given to parks, 

 the village green, the cemetery, church grounds. 

 In many towns the graveyards are shamefully 

 neglected— overgrown with unsightly weeds and 

 brush, the gravestones slanting, and sometimes 

 prostrate. 



Nhith. Many village improvement associations, 

 by concerted action, have created a public senti- 

 ment in removing /ron/ fences, so that the private 

 grounds seem to unite with the wayside in one 

 large lawn. This improvement is now adopted 

 widely over the country, except in those towns and 

 states where the battle of the cows and hogs has 

 not been fought. 



Tenth. The educational bearings of this subject 

 are important. The taste should be early cultivat- 

 ed. To love the beautiful should be held as a re- 

 ligious duty. In God's plan, facts and objects, as 

 best seen in the country, are the earliest and the 

 leading instruments In developing the faculties of 

 the juvenile mind. They cannot be fully trained 

 when cooped up within brick walls, witnessing only 

 city scenes. In all history the country has proved 

 the great school of mind. The country sends far 

 more than its proportion of gifted men to the great 

 centers of influence. In the language of Dr. Bush- 

 nell. " It is not in the great cities, nor in the con- 

 fined shops of trade, but principally in agriculture, 

 that the best stock or staple of men is grown. It 

 is in the open air— in communion with the sky, the 

 earth, and all living things— that the largest inspir- 

 ation is drunk in and the vital energies of a real 

 man constructed " 



Eleventh. The improvement of the surroundings 

 of railway stations enlists the efforts of these as- 

 sociations One of the most tastefully adorned 

 stations in this country— that at Wyoming, a sub- 

 urban town of Cincinnati— owes its attractions to 

 the Village Improvement Society, which offered 

 $1,300 to the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Rail- 

 road on the condition that they would expend double 

 that amount on the improvement of that station — 

 an offer at first decUned, but at length accepted, 

 and with results so satisfactory that this liberal 

 raihvay nou- offers to expend on the grounds of 

 any station an amount equal to that .so expended 

 by any village on its line. Every village station 

 wants its outlying green to give character and 

 dignity to the new approach- 



Twelfih. Among minor aims are the providing 

 of rustic seats under the shade; setting up water- 

 ing troughs for horse.^ at convenient points, furn- 

 ishing plans for rural architecture, the suggestion 

 of neutral tints for dwellings and (-uthouses in 

 place of the glaring white hitherto so common; 

 arrest of straj' cattle, for strolling cattle usually 

 are, and always ought to be, outlawed ; preventing 

 nuisance, such as tearirg up the turf fronting a 

 dwelling by inconsiderate road menders A village 

 improvement association develops a public senti- 

 ment which corrects these evils without occasion- 

 ing any neighborhood strifes or alienations. In 

 this matter the interest of one is the interest of all 



vise also planting the Moore's Early, which is a 

 large Grape, and earlier than the Concord. 

 I also like the Pocklington. 



Eight feet from the Grape-vines I would plant 

 two rows of Blackberries, 8 feet apart, of the 

 Snyder and Taylor varieties. They should be 

 planted very early in the spring, and deep in rich 

 soil. When about 3!^ feet high they should be cut, 

 and kept so. Pinching the tender shoots off is not 

 so good as cutting them off with a slanting cut with 

 a sharp knife. This does not wound, and insures a 

 stout, stocky, bushy plant, that can better with- 

 stand the winter. 



I would then plant Raspberries the same dis- 

 tance, two rows of Gregg and other blackcap 

 varieties, and two rows of Red Ra,«pberries, of 

 Cuthbert and other good varieties. They do not 

 have to be set out so early or so deep, but rather 

 shallow, and immediately after being taken from 

 the ground. The roots should not be allowed to 

 get dry, but must be packed in wet moss, or some- 

 thing that will keep them so until planted. The 

 same trimming given Blackberries should be prac- 

 ticed upon Raspberries, and continued throughout 

 the season. 



At the same distance from the Raspberries I 

 would plant two rows of Currants and Gooseberries. 

 The old wood should be kept cut out, and white 

 hellebore, mixed with middlings or flour, should be 

 dusted over the bushes, taking care to reach the 

 under leaves near the roots, where depredations of 

 the Currant worm commence. By a little watching 

 and care this enemy can be extirpated. I would 

 in no case use Paris green. 



In the remainder of the patch I would plant 

 Potatoes and Strawberries, alternately. I invari- 

 ably plant Strawberries in the spring, and would 

 advise the planting of a row of Wilson, three rows 

 of Crescent and one of Sharpless, or other good 

 staminate variety, to fertilize the Crescent. There 

 are many other good varieties, but these are 

 enough for an ordinary grower. I plant in rows 

 several feet apart, and cultivate with a horse. In 

 no case plant the Manchester, though it be a great 

 bearer. It is almost sure to rust, and will infect the 

 other varieties. 



I mulch with straw lightly in the fore part of 

 winter. Last fall I sowed oats thinly in my patch, 

 and they were knee high and more when the frost 

 came. The oats, of course, were killed, and the 

 first snow settled them into a perfect mulch. I 

 sow about one bushel to the acre for this purpose. 

 There is no danger of getting foul weed seeds, as is 

 often the case in mulching with straw. I also 

 mulch my Blackberries and Raspberries, to retain 

 moisture in summer. I set out Strawberries 

 where I raised Potatoes the year before, setting a 

 new patch every year, and do not think of getting 

 more than one or two crops from one bed. It is 

 easier to plant a new bed than to keep an old one 

 clean. Strawberries will stand any quantity of fer- 

 tility. I grow for the market and can make 

 money at from four to five cents a que-rt wholesale. 

 A hundred bushels is an average crop, although 

 200 and 300 are grown . 



The Work of the Boston Flower 

 Mission. 



Small Fruit Culture. 



[Abstract of a paper by Mr, B. F. Albaugh, before 

 the Farmers^ Institute in Sidney., O.] 



As to the best way to plant half an acre, 8 by 

 lU rods, for an ordinary family, I would, after 

 putting the plat of land in excellent order, 

 plant 8 feet from the outside with Concord, 

 Clinton, and Lady Grape-vines. The first year 

 the vines cut back to three eyes, and, after 

 they had started the next spring, rub off all but 

 one, the next j'ear to two eyes, and the third year 

 to three, which I would let grow. 



I then would put up a trellis of wire. Of 

 three shoots I would train one vertically up on 

 the wires, the other two respectively to the 

 right and left in a fan shape, and keep them 

 trained and trimmed in this way. I would ad- 



June Roses having faded, and the other early 



flowers of the season having passed, there is 

 somewhat of a dearth of blossoms in the gar- 

 dens, the effect of which is very apparent in 

 the baskets of contributions to the Boston 

 Flower Mission. 



But the workers there are very desirous that their 

 rounds amongst the poor and sick should not be 

 curtailed just at this time when these tlower tokens 

 of the beauty and fragrance growing all about for 

 those favored enough to live amongst it, or to be 

 able to seek it, are so peculiarly acceptable to the 

 weary, suffering invalid, and to those shut up in 

 close workrooms and hot, crowded city streets. 



The Boston Flower and Fruit Mission is the origi- 

 nal society of this kind, which had its headquarters 

 for many years at Hollis-street Chapel, and is now 

 located at Warren ton-street Chapel (entrance 33 

 Pleasant street), whereon Tuesdays and Fridays, 

 from 8.30 to 12 o'clock, a committee of ladies is in 

 attendance to receive all contributions and see to 

 their immediate distribution through hospitals, 

 workrooms, crowded tenements, vacation schools, 

 and to many a lonely sufferer and weary invalid 

 cut oif from liberty to go out under the bright skies 

 and into the gardens and fresh, pleasant places of 

 city or country. These tlowers are never made the 

 passports for tracts or scripture texts, the kindly 

 visit and the bright, sweet blossoms preaching, it is 

 hoped, most effectively their own texts. 



PREPARED FROM DIARY NOTES BY CHAS E. PARNELL, 

 QUEENS, N. Y. 



HOUSE PLANTS. 



Abutilons. Pot plants that have been plunged 

 in the open air should directly be taken up and 

 repotted. Those in the border to be wmtered over 

 should be lifted before frosty weather. 

 Achania. Repot and at same time trim as needed. 

 Aspidistra may now be divided, giving each part 

 a pot. Thoroughly cleanse the leaves by sponging 

 before bringing the plants inside. 



Begonia Weltoniensis will, d uring active growth, 



be helped by an occasional dose of liquid manure. 



Bulbs of the Hyacinth or Tulip class for 



winter blooming should, for the earliest flowers, be 



procured and potted as early as possible. 



Cactus. Those planted outside should now be 

 taken up and potted. 



Cestrums. As soon as tiowering has ceased grad- 

 ually reduce the supply of water. 



Cyclamen Persicum. Old corms or tubers to be 

 taken up and potted. Young plants to be shifted 

 for keeping them in a growing condition. 



Fuchsias. Speciosa and other winter bloomers to 

 be taken up and potted. As the summer bloomers 

 cease their growth, gradually reduce the water to 

 ultimately reach a state of rest. 



Geraniums. Plunged pot plants to be repotted at 

 an early date, others to be lifted and potted, cutting 

 them in well at same time. 



Ivy. Tho«e bedded to be lifted by end of month. 

 Young vigorous plants in pots to be shifted . Before 

 taking inside let them be sponged off thoroughly. 



Jasmmum grandiflorum from this time on 

 should be given liquid manure once a week. 



Jerusalem Cherries to be lifted and carefully 

 potted. Bear in mind they need much water. 



Ozalis, Repot and start iato growth O. tlori- 

 bunda, Boweii, lutea, versicolor, and vespertoline, 

 all of which are excellent for the window garden. 



Rivina humilis. Take up and pot. See especi- 

 ally that good drainage is secured. 



Taking up plants for wintering over will call for 

 activity now. Kinds in bloom alt summer to have 

 at least one-third of the top removed. Others speci- 

 ally prepared for winter blooming by having 

 had the flower buds removed and the tips cut 

 back will need little or no pruning. Place a high 

 value on every root to save it. To do this lift large 

 balls of earth and reduce with a pointed stick to a 

 size suitable for potting. It is best to work with 

 rather small pots, using good fine loam. This 

 should be well firmed between the ball of earth and 

 the pot. After potting, the plants should have one 

 thorough watering and rather close shade, with 

 frequent (say every two hours) light sprinklings of 

 the foliage. This to be kept up for a week, after 

 which give more light and space between them, but 

 not full sunlight yet for several weeks. 



FLOWER GARDEN AND LAWN. 



Dahlias. See to correctly labeling plants before 

 frost cuts them down. 



Frost may be expected towards the end of the 

 month. Have all tender plants in readiness for re- 

 moval inside, or else covering. As soon as plants are 

 destroyed or rendered unsightly by frost let them 

 be removed and the beds neatly levelled off. 



Gladiolus. Support the spikes. If the flowers 

 are removed as they fade the bulbs will be benefited. 



Herbaceous Plants. As soon as growth of the 

 various kinds ceases it is a good time to take up the 

 roots, divide and replant them. 



Hyacinths. The earlier these and other hardy 

 bulbs are planted after September 1st the better. 



Lawns. Mow regularly to the end of the grow- 

 ing season. Remove perennial weeds as soon as 

 noticed. Rake up and remove fallen leaves, and 

 endeavor to keep everything neat and in good order. 



Petunias. If cut back about the middle of the 

 month will produce good cuttings for propagation 



Taking up Plants. See under "House Plants.'' 



