1872 TJie Western Pomologist and Gardener, 93 



enough to hoe," but stir the ground often at the start, and before they fall down trellis 

 them up on all sides so that the vines and fruit may have something to rest on, and 

 if you have a good kind you can take at least half a t)ushel from every plant. The great 

 secret of success is in keeping the ground mellow and loose, so that not a weed is allowed 

 to grow on the ground, and as soon as a hill of beans, a stalk of corn, or any other plant 

 has done its duty, pull it up, use it for mulching other plants, and take the ground for 

 another crop. In this way you can raise two or three crops a year all over your garden. 



The Stannard Apple— Stark. 



I find in Warder's American Pomology the lollowing concerning this apple and the tree : 

 ■" This proves one of the most profitable winter apples ; the tree bears young and con- 

 stantly, but fuller on alternate years ; fruit large and showy ; shoots large and downy ; 

 buds prominent, fruit buds large and the earliest in the orchard to swell ; but they do not 

 open as soon as the others. Tree spreading, trunk generally crooked ; very hardy." 



When r was at Mr. M. L. Dunlap's, Champagne, 111., I found he had many trees of this 

 variety in profitable bearing, and also that the tree was hardy t!tere. I am not alone in 

 believing that several sorts of the apple, grape and other fruits that do well on the level 

 clayey soils of Central and North Central Illinois, will do as well or better here, where 

 ■we have much better natural drainage and a more even temperature. 



Seeing Mr. Dunlap's strong recommendation of the Stannard for hardiness, I procured 

 some cions, and they wintered very well, as root graft stocks last winter and this, being 

 uninjured so fiir by cold or otherwise. 



The stock also made a good growth last summer, growing as large as Ben Davis or 

 Transcendent, with me, on a rather light soil. I believe the tree of the Stannard apple to 

 be quite hardy here in the north, and have so written to others, and the Prairie Farmer 

 people seemed to appreciate the fruit when they received a barrel as a Christmas treat a 

 year ago. — J. W. C, Oreen Lake Co., Wis. 



Floivers.~SeIectIou, Soil and Culture. 



Bt J. CocuRANE, Havana, Ili,. 



Flowers, in the beauty and perfection to which they are capable of being brought, 

 will not grow spontaneously, like weeds, in the garden or elsewhere. The seed must be 

 sown, and proper attention bestowed on the plants. Many who fail attribute such failure 

 to bad seed, when they should charge themselves with want of ^kill and care. 



Selection is of the first importance — the place and soil in which they are to grow, 

 and the purposes 3'ou wish them to serve. If you desire a show of bedded flowers, select 

 Phlox Drummondii, Candytuft, Petunias, Verbenas, etc. For tall, showy groups, choo.se 

 Zinnias, Calliopsis, Marigolds, Balsams, Poppies, etc. If you want dwarf borders, take 

 Sanvatalia, Sweet Alyssum, etc. If fragrance is desired. Mignonette, Sweet Pea, Sweet 

 Alyssum, Stocks, etc. For expression, the Pansy has no rival. Leaf colors are secured in 

 Amaranthus, Perilla, Coleus, etc. Tropical foliage is gained in Ricinus, Cannas, Herac- 

 leum, etc. When mixed beds are desired, the tallest flowers should occupy the center, and 

 the lower varieties toward the margin, in careful gradation. 



Prbpak.\.tion. — Most flowers flourish best in sandy loam, enriched with well rotten 

 manure. Such soils do not bake but remain alluvial and porous. This not only gives 

 immediate nourishment to the young plant, but secures vigor, beauty, perfection in the 

 matured stem and flower. If your garden soil is stiff and heavy, dress it with sand and 

 manure ; the result will pay. Before sowing seeds in any soil have it thoroughly pulver- 

 ized, even if you have to throw a halt-foot depth of it into a feed-mill and grind it. This 

 necessity — ^ fine soil — should never be overlooked. 



Sowing — unless in a hot-bed — should be only after warmth and dryness have been 

 imparted to the soil in the spring, or most seeds are apt to perish. When the soil will 

 spade up mellow, showing that the frost is all out and the ground settled, it is in good 

 condition. Sow fine seed on the surface, press evenly with a board — if covered too deep 

 it will perish. Hardy plants may be sown earlier than half-hardy, and more tender 

 va ieties. 



