118 
THE GARD EN — MAG MASZaEN es 
Marcu, 1916 
DREER’S ROSES 
For the Garden === 
TRONG, two-year-old, pot-grown Rose 
S Plants that will give a full crop of flowers 
this season is one of our most important 
In our Garden Book for 1916 we offer 
and describe over two hundred of the choicest varie- 
ties, including the latest introductions of the world’s 
most famous Hybridisers. 
SPECIAL: The “Dreer Dozen” Hybrid-Tea Roses, a collec- 
tion of high-grade sorts that always do well, —for $5.00. 
specialties. 
Or, send for a copy of the Garden Book free, and make 
your own selection. Please mention this magazine. 
Rose 714-716 Chestnut St. 
Henry A. D reer Specialists PHILADELPHIA, PA. 
Caden Outfit Complete for 25c. | [7 oox) 
and a little favor sent post paid 
by PARCEL POST. Drill- 
Cultivator, Can Plant Food. 
30 Papers Vegetable Seed. 
40 Varieties Flower Seed. 
I wish to widely introduce my 
a> Northern Grown vegetable Seed, 
guaranteed, and so make a most remarkable offer. Write for full 
particulars. T. J. KING, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 
SQUARE PLANT BANDS 
Get in touch with the up-to-date method of growing plants. 
No waste space, less watering, less labor. Plants grow better 
100 Forest Seedlings by Parcel Post 
We offer many varieties including NUT Trees. 
Write for new booklet HOME LANDSCAPES, 
which tells about our Landscape Service. 
We furnish a 3 year guarantee with our Nursery 
Stock. 
C. A. Jackson Horticultural Co., Unadilla, N. Y. 
PRIZE MEDAL DAHLIAS 
Awarded Grand Prize and Three Silver Medals 
Panama-Pacific International Exposition 
San Francisco, California, 1915 
FORBES & KEITH 
299 Chancery St. New Bedford, Mass. 
in square paper bands, and can be handled, shipped, or set in 
the field with less trouble and without disturbing the roots. 
Try them for all kinds of plants. Send a postal for free 
samples and prices of our ready-use and plain dirt bands. 
G. S. RAMSBURG SOMERSWORTH, N. H. 
“She Has Opened the Eyes of Thousands to the Wonder and Glory 
of the World About Them’’—London Standard 
An English Estimate of Gene Stratton-Porter 
Below are the nature books and romances which 
have won for the author this high praise. 
Michael O’Halloran 
““A Book With Sunshine on Every Page’’—London Referee 
“Michael O’Halloran” with his Irish wit and optimism has won thousands of English and 
American readers. Published August 17, 1915, it was the best loved as well as the best selling 
book of the Fallseason. Now inits 250th thousand. Illustrated. Net $1.35. Leather net $2.00. 
FRECKLES THE HARVESTER LADDIE 
(New Limberlost Edition and 33rd Edt- 690th Thousand T\lustrated. 576,451 Thousand Illustrated. Cloth, 
tion) Illustrated. Net, $1.50 net, $1.35; Leather, net, $2.00 net, $1.35; Leather, net, $2.00 
At the Foot of the Rainbow A Girl of the Limberlost .- 37th Edition 
12th Edition Illustrated. Net, $1.20 Illustrated. Cloth, net, $1.20: Leather, net, $2.00 
Cloth, 
Mrs. Porter’s Unique Nature Work in Field and Swamp is Described in 
The Song of the Cardinal 7th New and Revised What I Have Done With Birds 
Edition with color plates Cloth, net, $1.35; Leather, net, $2.00 Illustrated with Photographs by the Author; 
Music of the Wild Moths of the Limberlost 
With 120 Photographs of Bird and Insect Life. Colors from Rare Photographs of Living Moths. 
Net, $3.00 
Illustrated in 
Net, $2.50 Net, $2.50 
DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY GARDEN CITY, N. Y. 
The great secret about raising cucumbers, or 
indeed anything, is to keep them growing and 
not to let them be checked at all. We never let 
the sun shine directly in the frames but used a 
cheesecloth screen whether the sash was off or 
on. If the sash was off the screen was propped 
up so that it shaded the plants and let in the 
air. 
New York. 
Home Made Hotbed Mats 
N THE January issue of THE GARDEN MaGAs 
ZINE there is an article on the making of 
straw mats for hotbed protection. This has 
suggested the story of our experience where a 
hundred mats were in constant use, the con- 
stant expense of purchasing new ones to replace 
those worn out, leading to the final making o 
our own. And this making of mats is excellent 
employment for idle garden labor in winter. 
For making the mats we use a horse, like a 
carpenter’s horse, one that any handy man can 
make. It is made of two 2x6 in. planks 
(marked A). on edge, braced together with legs 
the proper height for men to work at as with 
any bench, there being a space left in between 
both to allow the thickness of the mat to be 
made and go down as fast as made. Wide saw- 
cuts are made on the upper edges, at C, for 
the proper spacing of the tarred strings to be 
placed at equal distances. Take a small bunch 
of straw, chop off the ends with a small axe to 
square them, put these ends against the cleats 
at each end of the horse, the tops of straw lap- 
ping over each other in the middle; then tie 
each string with a single knot, push this down 
through the planks, and make another similar 
handful of straw and tie again. The width 
between the planks will govern the thickness of 
ETHEL A. S. PECKHAM. 
the mat, and if the mat does not push down 
easily, there is too much used. An inch and a - 
half (as at B) is about the right width between 
planks. 
We make mats six feet wide by seven 
feet long. These cover two regular hotbed sash, 
are rolled up and down from the back of frames 
and are easily handled. 
The spacing of the strings may be regulated 
by the saw cuts. We use each cut at the ends 
of mats for a foot in length, as this is where 
the wear by handling comes. After a foot in 
length is made, each second string is dropped, 
but if desired, these may be carried all through 
the mat. Some prefer the strings at four 
inches apart at the ends and sides, which 
makes for strength, with eight-inch spacing 
in the middle of same. This rests with the 
maker and the spacing of saw cuts. 
We grow our own rye straw for the making 
of the mats. There is ample time to sow win- 
ter rye after the harvesting of the potato crop. 
The straw should be “cut in the milk.” It has 
then all the toughness needed to make good 
mats, and still not be brittle. If the grain is 
allowed to ripen there is always some seed 
left, even if the rye is threshed, which will at- 
tract mice and rats when the mats are stored 
for the summer. 
To get the best results the straw should be 
mown with a scythe with a “cradle” attached, 
but failing this, machine cut will do. The 
straw must be handled with care, however, to 
have it come out as near straight as possible in 
order to avoid waste. 
Illinois. E. O. ORPET. 
