252 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



January, 1914 



Don't Buy Pumps 

 Blindfolded! 



There are over 300 types of pumps — each best for 

 a certain purpose. 



Can you pick out, unaided, the one that will 

 exactly suit your needs ? 



Won't you be saving time and money by getting 

 expert advice ? Write our Mr. Gould, in care of 

 our Consultation Department. He will advise you 

 from his expert knowledge — help you choose the 

 pump that will best serve you, and at the lowest cost. 

 There is no charge for this service. You may as 

 well have the benefit of it. 



RELIABLE 



Before you make up your mind on pumps, in justice to yourself, 

 you ought to investigate Goulds Reliable Pumps. 



For over two generations they have held top place. There are 

 more Goulds in use than any other line of pumps made. That's 

 pretty good evidence of their quality. And you'll find Goulds 

 Pumps sold by the best dealers in your town. That's another 

 proof. 



We make hundreds of thousands of pumps yearly. This big 

 output enables us to give maximum value at lowest cost. Be sure 

 to look up the Goulds dealer, whether you need a small cistern 

 suction pump or a large power pump. 



TLJo Rrvnlr Froo Tells how to have running water 



1 ICC any place on the {arm _ m us t r ated 



with pictures and diagrams. Twenty pages 



crammed full of pump information you 



ought to have. By filling out the 



blank in this book you will, without 



obligation, get facts and cost of the 



very pump outfit you require. Write 



at once. 



The Goulds Mfg. Co. 



82 W. Fall Street, Seneca Falls, N. Y. 



Largest Manufacturers of Pumps 



for 'Every Purpose 31 



ROKLEY'S FRUIT PLANTS 

 Michigan's best, hardy, well rooted stock from old es- 

 tablished growers. All varieties of Strawberries, Raspberries, 

 Blackberries, Currants, etc. Also the great Everbearing Straw- 

 berry. Moderate prices. WRITE FOR CATALOGUE. 



J. N. Rokley's Nurseries, R8, Bridgman, Mich. 



Our Spring Garden 

 Book for 1914 



will be ready by January 

 1 5th. It will contain full 

 descriptions of the Best Novelties in 

 Flowers and Vegetables — rare Bulbs 

 and Shrubs. Contains 1 20 pages pro- 

 fusely illustrated. A postal brings it 

 free to you. Address 



H. H. BERGER & CO. 

 70 Warren St. New York City 



An Inexpensive Home-made 

 Fertilizer 



ONE is often advised to use ammonia to fertilize 

 potted plants, applying it by adding a teaspoon- 

 ful to a pail of the water given them. This is ah 

 right for foliage plants as ammonia — or any form of 

 nitrogen alone — causes a growth of foliage. But 

 unless the soil contains much potash and phos- 

 phoric acid the ammonia-fed plant will soon come 

 to grief; certainly it will not bloom. Foliage plants 

 require much ammonia (nitrogen), while flowering 

 plants require a large percentage of phosphoric acid, 

 to develop their buds and flowers, and less nitrogen 

 than do plants that are grown for their foliage alone. 

 Phosphoric acid is that part of the plant food in the 

 soil that brings all vegetation to maturity, causing 

 it to put forth flowers to produce seeds. In other 

 words, nitrogen develops leaf and growth; potash 

 gives strength and firmness to the stems; phosphoric 

 acid induces bloom and matures the seed. Of these, 

 phosphoric acid is the most expensive to obtain. 



Now properly prepared bone — prepared with 

 potash — is a most soluble and available plant 

 food, and about the best fertilizer for flowering 

 plants. But the market-offered article is high in 

 price and besides is not offered for sale in all places. 

 In any household where sufficient meat is eaten so 

 that one has the refuse bones, and one will take the 

 trouble, a valuable fertilizer that is high in phosphoric 

 acid can be made from these bones at a trifling 

 cost. It can be made in one's own backyard and 

 is so very easily and inexpensively prepared in this 

 way that the matter and process is worthy of con- 

 sideration by all who cultivate flowers in the house 

 or garden. 



Save aU the bones from the kitchen and pile them 

 in an out-of-the-way place in the open. The action 

 of the sun and rain, aided by an occasional sprink- 

 ling with the hose, soon cleans them of all fat and 

 grease. Grease of any kind greatly weakens the 

 action of the potash, applied later. 



To 1 6 pounds of grease-free bones (I operate on a 

 1 6-pound scale because that amount of bones just 

 nicely fills a stone crock that I use) is added 3 

 pounds of potash that has been dissolved in 4J 

 quarts of water. Either a tight wooden or a stone 

 ware receptacle may be used, but never one of tin or 

 any other metal. When the potash has become 

 thoroughly dissolved, dump in the bones. Cover 

 and let stand until all the bones are dissolved. 

 This will require from two to six weeks according to 

 the size of the bones used. Fresh and large bones 

 require a longer time than more weathered or small 

 ones. It may be stirred occassionally, though this 

 is not necessary except to determine if all the bones 

 are yet dissolved. When the bones are all dis- 

 solved the mixture will be thick, like porridge and 

 of a grayish or brownish color. 



To this now add 4 pounds of 50 per cent, sul- 

 phuric acid — having the druggist prepare it for 

 you if possible. This acid solution should stand 

 at least twelve hours after dissolving, as it becomes 

 very hot in the process. Pour the cooled solution 

 into the bone porridge slowly, stirring it all the 

 time. The acid will liberate large quantities of 

 carbonic acid gas, causing the entire mass to bubble 

 and become very hot. Continue to stir the mass 

 slowly with a stick as long as there is any bubbling. 

 Let it stand until it is cooled off, when the product 

 may be handled without injury to the hands or 

 clothing. But be very careful while operating, not 

 to let either the potash or the acid alone touch the 

 hands or clothing as they each "eat " or burn. Now 

 let this product stand uncovered in a dry place — an 

 outer shed or barn — for a week to ten days, stir- 

 ring occasionally. At the end of this time it 

 should be a dry, fine powder. 



Now for the matter of using. A teaspoonful may 

 be used in a 5-inch pot, mixing it in the soil when 

 potting. For other sized pots use proportionate 

 amounts, of course. Also, it may be stirred in from 

 the top, where plants are already potted, being 

 careful not to mix it in close to the plant stems. 

 Applied in this way the water will carry it down to 

 the roots. A better way, however, when the plants 

 are already potted, is to add a tablespoonful of the 

 powder to two quarts of water and use once a week 

 to water the plants. The powder can be kept for an 

 unlimited time without deterioration. 



New York. Clark Westford. 



Patent Applied For 



The Ball Seed 

 and Plant Forcer 



A new method in Modern 

 Horticulture. This is just 

 what you have been looking 

 for. Can start out door gar- 

 dening weeks ahead of usual 

 time. Cheap enough to use 

 them by the thousands. A 

 practical complete individual 

 plant frame like cut as low as 

 2ic each. 



Will make your sugar corn, lima beans, melons, cucumbers, 

 lettuce, cauliflower and all vegetables and flowers 2 to 4 

 weeks earlier than by any other method. Protects from insects. 

 Invented by a market gardener with 20 years' experience. 

 Send for my Free Booklet, How to grow Bigger, Better and 

 Earlier crops than you ever had before, let me tell you more 

 about this and many other wonderful new money making 

 inventions for the garden. 



Only to be had from 



The Ball Mfg. Co. Dept. E. 



Glenside, Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania 



COHO TOBACCO SOIL 



for house plants, window and porch boxes, hot- 

 beds and greenhouses, prepared in the richest 

 agricultural county in the United States. 



Sample bag 100 lbs. $1.00 J. 0. b. Lancaster, Pa. 

 RALPH W. COHO, LANCASTER. PA. 



LOOK OUT 

 FOR SPARKS 



No more danger or damage from flying 

 sparks. No more poorly fitted, flimsy fire- 

 place screens. Send for free booklet 

 "Sparks from the Fire-side." It tells about 

 the best kind of a spark guard for your in- 

 dividual fireplace. Write to-day for free 

 booklet and make your plans early. 



The Syracuse Wire Works 

 107 University Avenue, - Syracuse, N. Y. 



SEEDS 



"AS SURE AS SUNSHINE" 



Market Gardeners Specialties 



Send at once for catalogue 

 0. H. DICKINSON, 243 Worthington St., Springfield, Mass. 



In Strawberries 



Tes, sir, there's big money In 

 ;.«a2tf them If you start with the right 

 tiger kind of plants— the sure grow kind. 



Baldwin Plants 



are all large and healthy. They are northern 



grown, have heavy roots and are fully guaranteed. 



Read Our Guarantee 



All plants are guaranteed to be first-class and true 

 to name, packed to reach you in good condition, (by 

 express) and to please you, or your money back. 



This same guarantee applies to our Raspberry, 

 Blackberry, Currant and Grape plants, Seed Potatoes, 

 etc. Send for our new big catalog now. Get started. 



©.A.D.BALDWIN, R.R. 19, Bridgman, Mich, 



OLD ENGLISH GARDEN SEATS 



Special Offer for January Orders 



Send for new Catalogue of mono designs 



North Shore Ferneries Co., Beverly, Mass. 



// you wish to systematize your business the Readers' Service may be able to offer suggestions 



