186 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



April 



poand, slack it in a pail with cold water ; let it 

 settle, then bottle and keep in a cool place, where 

 it will not freeze ; warm it before you turn it on 

 the plants. It acts as a fertilizer as well as a worm 

 destroyer. Wood ashes will also kill worms. Put 

 a tablespoonful on the surface of a large pot — tak- 

 ing care not to touch the stem or leaves of the 

 plants. 



Insects seldom trouble plants which are often 

 washed ; but in parlors it is not convenient to 

 shower frequently. A feather will brush off the 

 green aphides, and by putting a newspaper under 

 the pot, they can be burned up. 



In England, the gardeners recommend washing 

 the plants with alcohol water, — a tablespoonful of 

 the former to four of water, — but the water itself 

 will do the work as well. Summer showers keep 

 our flowers free from them. 



Red spiders will not always leave if plants are 

 well Watered ; but a slight dusting of cayenne pep- 

 per routs them. Spread a paper over the surface 

 of the pot to prevent its touching the soil, as it 

 might injure the roots. Take the pepper castor, 

 and dust the leaves and stems — in two or three 

 days wash it off, and the spiders will not soon re- 

 turn. Bulbs always repay the cultivator. We 

 have a glass dish filled with hyacinths which are 

 in full bud. By watering them with warm water 

 and a few drops of ammonia, we have doubled their 

 growth. To a teacupful of water, add five drops of 

 liquid ammonia. We filled our fernery this year 

 with snow-drops, crocuses, anemones, colchicums, 

 etc., and now it is a joy and beauty. Among the 

 tall feathery ferns, the Lycopodiums, partridge 

 vines, and green mosses, their bright flowers glow 

 like tropical birds. No matter how dreary the 

 weather, how few our visitors, we have "com- 

 pany" always. As we sit by the glowing fireside, 

 we can gaze upon a miniature summer, though 

 out of doors dread winter reigns supreme ; and as 

 I write, I feast my eyes upon Its beauties, and won- 

 der that all house-keepers do not avail themselves 

 of the adornments which flowers offer to them. 

 Costing but little, their influence is priceless ! A 

 firnery requires no attention — water is needed only 

 once a month, so to those who dislike the daily 

 care of flowers, it offers a floral treat without care. 

 Mine is homemade — the tin man made the zinc 

 pan ten inches by eighteen — the carpenter, the 

 glass case which covers ii — the whole expense was 

 only $3.50; and it will last for years. The woods 

 and fields provided the ferns, mosses, and vines, 

 and with the bulbs blossoming among them, it is a 

 ^'rest for the weary." 



The double geraniums are a "novelty" worthy of 

 the attention of all lovers of flowers. They do not 

 drop their leaves like the single varieties, and the 

 clusters are very large and ornamental in bouquet 

 or vase. Madame Lemome in considered one of 

 the most beautiful yet produced. Its leaves are 

 handsomely zoned with chocolate, the flowers are 

 very durable and ot a bright rose color, and the 



tresses are enormous in size. $3 was asked for 

 this rarity last year. This year it can be pur- 

 chased for ^1. Triomphe de Lorraine has im- 

 mense, very durable flowers of a rosy carmine 

 color, striped white ; last year it was $1— now it 

 can be had for fifty cents. Triomphe De Thumes- 

 nil is of a violet rose, shaded with carmine, and 

 Its trusses often boast of from fifty to sixty flow- 

 ers. This rare "novelty" is seventy -five cents. 

 Novelties, en masse, we are apt to class as hum- 

 bugs ; but these flowers are what they pretend to 

 be, and worthy the attention of every florist. They 

 come to us from the French florists, and are the 

 results of the most careful hybridization. With a 

 camel's hair pencil they deposited the precious 

 pollen upon the stygma of another flower, and if 

 but one more petal was produced, that flower was 

 treated in the same manner. So after years of 

 careful investigation and patient toil, they are re- 

 warded by 



"The bright conenmmate flower," 

 and feel fully repaid for all their c ire. By this 

 process, these perfectly double geraniums were 

 produced ; also the double Zinnias, Asters, and 

 Balsams, which delight all florists and amateurs. 

 While we write of these brilliant flowers, we can 

 imagine them springing up about us, in all the lux- 

 uriance of summer, but a glance out of doors, 

 shows us that — 



"Gently as liliog shed their leaves. 



When summer days are fair, 

 The feathery enow comes floating down. 



Like blossoms on the air," 



and our visions fade away. s. o. j. 



For the New Englan<i Farmer. 

 WINDHAM COUNTY "WOOL QROWTEBS* 

 ASSOCIATION. 



The Windham County Wool Grower's As- 

 sociation met in Westminster East, Feb. 7th, 

 Hnd after a free and full discussion of the sub- 

 ject of wool growing and the working of the 

 present tariff, if rightfully administered, also 

 its effects under the present erroneous con- 

 struction, adopted the following preamble and 

 resolutions : — 



Whereas during the year previous to the passage of 

 our present Tariff great inducements werehtld out to 

 capitalists :o enter largely into the Importation of for- 

 eigi wool and wooleiie, with a view to aet their goods 

 into our markets under the old Tariff of low duties and 

 hold them until after its passage, and 



Whereas such vast importations were made as to 

 cau^ie a Klut in all of our markets, and a ri ductiun in 

 prices of wool and woolens to such an extent as to se- 

 riously cripple these two great interests; and had it 

 not bi en fur the intervention of our Tariff, passed in 

 March, 1867, the Wool Growing interest would have 

 speedily been annihilated, and 



Whereas Wool Growing is one of the material pro- 

 ducts of this our Commonwealth, and from its adapta- 

 tion oughi, to be one of the leading pursuits of iis citi- 

 zens as i'. has been heretofore, and 



Whereas the prices of domestic wool under the oper- 

 ations uf the pr sent Tariff, as now administered, do 

 not pay for its production in this section of our coun- 

 try, and can be remunerative in no considerable por- 

 tion thereof, and is fast being abandoned, and 



Whereas by the ruling of the head of our Treasury 

 Department, a very important and eseential proviso ia 



