December. 1905 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



217 



Sweet Williams (Dianthus barbatus) in flower at eleven months. This achievement is the result of sowing the seed on July 21st— the plants were in flower the following 

 June. Three crops of bloom in fourteen months, by cutting out the old flower heads to induce branching. Notice th» humming-bird's head to the left 



on at first, gradually increasing the weight 

 until pliable. Then, with a thick covering 

 of straw and a few light boards to keep it in 

 place, the bush rests securely through the 

 rugged winters and is ready to smile again 

 in June. 



In the spring of 1904, in taking off its 

 winter covering, we found the mice had 

 girdled for some distance even' branch but 

 two. These were almost girdled. The 

 crowning glory of our extensive grounds was 

 an entire wreck. Every branch was cut off 

 close to the root excepting the two mentioned 

 — just a couple of whips in place of the long- 

 time majestic bush. 



The picture accompanying this shows the 

 marvelous growth in a little over a year. It 

 now occupies a trellis 9x15 feet, and prom- 

 ises to be more prolific than ever. Another 

 catastrophe of this kind is not anticipated, 

 as we have learned that sulphur freely 

 sprinkled around the roots before covering 

 will effectually prevent such ravages. 



Rhubarb for Table All Summer 



H. R. Albee, New Hampshire 



T_TALF a dozen well-established rhubarb 

 *■ ■*■ plants furnished our family of six peo- 

 ple with rhubarb all summer, if not pulled 

 oftener than twice a week. 



Secure large undivided roots that will give 

 results without waiting four years. The 

 Linnaeus is a choice early variety. The 

 stalks are of a mild, delicate flavor, a brilliant 

 red in color, and of immense size. A single 

 stalk including the leaf will often measure 

 forty inches, and the stalk alone weighs half 

 a pound. In planting, the ground is made 

 mellow to the depth of two feet or more and 

 heavily dressed. 



Is is better to leave new plants undisturbed 

 for a year or two, for close picking retards 

 the growth. Every autumn the plants should 

 be covered a foot deep with coarse stable 

 manure, and in the spring the top of the old 

 dressing should be raked off and a new lot 

 of well-rotted manure put on. As soon as 

 the leaves show a few inches above the ground 

 each plant should be covered with a barrel 

 sawed in two and the ends knocked out. 

 Nail the hoops firmly to the staves, or the 

 half barrel will fall to pieces before the sum- 

 mer is over. This is kept about the plant 

 until it is time to give the autumn covering. 

 A half barrel shades the roots, keeps the 

 ground moist, and in the effort to spread their 

 leaves to the light the stalks grow to an enor- 

 mous length. Nothing is gained, however, by 

 using a whole barrel, for the stalks grow thin 

 and the plant is not so healthy. Under this 

 treatment rhubarb is as crisp and tender in 



August and September as in early spring. 

 All blossom buds should be cut off as soon 

 as they appear, and in gathering the stalks 

 they should not be cut but pulled, by taking 

 hold of the stem low down in the barrel and 

 giving a quick, strong tug. This loosens the 

 stalk with its sheath-shaped base and leaves 

 the plant uninjured. 



A Conservatory Built Around a 

 Cellar Door 



By Edith L. Fullerton, Long Island 



A SMALL conservatory had always been 

 our hearts' desire. We found a rather 

 odd combination in our old Long Island 

 home which gave us one. I must confess 

 we should be without one now had not a good 

 deal of ingenuity been used. 



The south hall door opens upon a small 

 porch, with the outside cellar door under 

 part of its roof. One French window also 

 opens on to it. The floor of this porch was 

 directly on the ground and, as the boards had 

 rotted awav, we removed them, substituting 

 a floor of cement. 



The cellar is low, and a modern furnace 

 heated it beyond the point of wisdom. We 

 sought an outlet for the heat, and immediately 

 the conservatory shaped itself. By enclosing 

 the small porch in glass and removing the 



