April 3, 1889.] 



Garden and Forest. 



163 



Anything more than general hints on the principles of vine- 

 pruning is useless. To learn to do this well one must do it 

 for some years, and notice results of his work. If he have the 

 gift of observation and the capacity to learn from it he can 

 prune vines intelligently. If he does not learn thus he never 

 will. It is rare to hnd a good hand at vine-pruning. A poor 

 one is worse than none. 



The results of judicious pruning and training, on such a 

 trellis as described (page 136), will be that in a few years the 

 vine (of the Labrusca Grape, at least) will be fitted to stand 

 alone, needing no trellis support. Thus, a considerable 

 expense per acre is saved, and, with Grapes at ten dollars 

 a ton, there will be less loss in their production. 



When planting the more tender Lilies, it is advisable to pre- 

 pare a bed and arrange each kind according to its height, and 

 in fall, when they ha^•e died down, place a frame over tlie bed, 

 fill with dry leaves and cover with shutters. In this way all the 

 tender kinds, including tliose from California and L. longi- 

 Horum, L. Harrisii, L. giganteiivi, L. Brownii and choice x'arie- 

 ties of L. aiiratiim, may Vie wintered with safety. 



Plants that need division (and many kinds thrive better when 

 periodically lifted), such as the tall Phlox, Day Lilies, Iris 

 Kaempferi and /. Gerniatiica, should be taken up and divided 

 with a sharp knife. The soil should be enriched before 

 replantmg, for such plants are gross feeders. Delphiniums, to 

 succeed well, need a moist soil. If the soil is sandy, and liable 



Chestnut Hill Station, Boston and Albany Railroad.— See page 159. 



For the Riparia vines a trellis is necessary, or they may 

 climb over trees. They demand room to spread themselves, 

 and then will produce liberally. The flowers of the Riparia 

 vines have reflexed stamens, and seem to be benefited by 

 pollenization from other sorts, although I cannot understand 

 why. 

 Vineland, N.J. A. W. Pearson. 



The Flower Garden. 



'T'HE month of April should be a busy time among hardy, 

 ■*■ herbaceous plants. All dead foliage should be removed 

 and a light top-dressing of well-decayed manure or leaf-mould 

 applied and lightly forked in ; care should be taken, however, 

 not to fork where bulbs are planted. Any additions to the 

 hardy plant-border should be made as soon as possible, and 

 this is especially advisable in the case of all kinds of Lilies, for 

 if these are not planted, early root-growth commences, and 

 the prospect of good flowers the first season is not promising. 



to dry out in siunmer, even heavier soil, as clay, should be 

 added. With this treatment even the best double kinds will 

 thrive and be perennial. Choice Alpines, such as Androsace^. 

 Gentiana excisa, G. vcrna, G. aculis, Dianthus glacialis. I). 

 tieglectus and Arabis Androsace, should be examined. The\- 

 wi'll probably be lifted by the action of frost. When such is the 

 case, make them firm, and place a httle fresh soil on the siu-- 

 face, and if pieces of porous stone lie placed round the plants 

 they will not be liable to injury from heavy rains or dry s])ells. 

 Hellebores are 1)ecoming popular, owing to their season ot 

 flowering. These are deep-rooting and need to be planted 

 where tiiey will be sheltered from direct sunshine. We find 

 them succeed best when planted in this way, and when the 

 ground is dug deep and lightened with plenty of leaf-mould. 

 Any bare, dry places should be planted with 'PyretJiruiii Tchi- 

 haicheivii. This will form a nice carpet even on a dry bank; 

 and for shady places, such as under trees, where grass will not 

 succeed, Vinca minor and its varieties may be used, and when 

 planted a foot apart a good covering will be the result the first 



