Sow Pansies Now 
OST varieties of the pansy will 
succeed in this section of the 
South if planted at the right time and properly 
cared for. Seed must be sown in the open 
ground late in August or very early in Sep- 
tember for flowers in the late fall, and for very 
early spring blossoms sow seed in a hotbed 
during December or January. The large- 
flowered sorts, which are the most desirable, 
can be grown here only during the cool 
fall and spring months. I have had very 
satisfactory results from Hercules Giant, 
Cassier’s Hortense Rose, Giant Bridesmaid, 
Masterpiece, and Mammoth Butterfly, 
although Hercules Giant proved to have 
the largest and handsomest flowers. 
For flowers in the late spring plant in the 
open ground during February and March. 
At least two weeks before sowing the seed 
or setting out the plants the soil should have 
a good quantity of well decayed cow or 
poultry manure spread over its surface and 
spaded or dug in, and the soil must be made 
loose and fine to a considerable depth so 
that the long roots can penetrate deeply. 
Horse manure ought never to be used for 
pansies unless it is applied to the soil at 
least six months before planting. 
Sow the seed thinly in drills six inches apart 
in the place where the plants are to grow 
and flower, and cover one-fourth of an inch 
deep with fine soil. If the soil is dry press 
it firmly over the seed to insure quick germi- 
nation. When the plants have four or five 
leaves thin out to one every four or six inches. 
It is always an economy to get the best seed. 
Cheap seed gives poor flowers like these 
THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 
Seed is sown in the hotbed in the same 
method, with the exception that the drills 
must be three inches apart instead of six. 
When the plants have five or six leaves set 
out in the open ground if the weather is 
sufficiently warm, which is usually about 
the time the trees begin putting out new leaves. 
Place the plants six inches apart each way, 
and be careful to firm the soil about the roots 
ofeach. They are very tender and are easily 
injured — just a slight bruise will check their 
growth for a very long time. 
The best method of transplanting is to 
use a flat trowel or a board with a small sharp 
end, lifting one plant at a time with a good 
quantity of soil about the roots. Make the 
hole where the plant is to be set large enough 
to receive both roots and soil comfortably. 
Transplanting should always be done when 
the soil is damp but not too wet. 
Begin cultivation just as soon as the young 
plants are well up. Dig or scratch around 
them in the hotbed with an old fork, and use 
a small garden hoe to work those that are 
The proper sized pansy for transplanting. Handle 
carefully, so as not to injure the long roots 
growing in the open ground. One thorough 
hoeing each week is necessary to keep down 
the weeds and grass and to promote sturdy, 
healthy growth which, unless the weather 
becomes too hot and dry or freezing cold, will 
continue as long as the cultivation is kept up. 
The beds of pansies should always be 
partly shaded in the spring, and if the soil 
becomes very dry give the plants a thorough 
watering twice a week. Apply the water 
late in the evening in trenches around the 
plants, and when the water has soaked into 
the soil do not fail to cover the trenches. A 
light watering every day or two will do more 
harm than good. 
Keep all the old flowers picked off not allow- 
ing any to make seed — that would shorten 
the flowering period considerably. If one tea- 
spoonful of nitrate of soda in solution or some 
other reliable plant food, be applied to every 
twolargeplants or four small onesoncea week, 
it will greatly lengthen their flowering period 
and will also increase the size of the flowers. 
AuvecustT, 1908 
Giant pansies can only be grown in the South during 
the cooler months. Get good seed i 
In this locality pansy plants can be kept 
through the winter outdoors if given a cover- 
ing of pine straw or any sort of light leaves, 
although wheat or oat straw is best to cover 
the plants with and, if possible, should be 
used instead of the leaves. 
Georgia THomas J. STEED. 
Growing Celery With Corn 
We AN experiment in celery culture I 
decided to plant the crop between 
rows of corn which was eared out and about 
ready for the table. This was late in July. 
The ground was rich from a heavy dressing 
of manure that had been plowed under 
the previous spring; otherwise, it would have 
been necessary to have mixed some well 
rotted manure with the soil. Trenches 
were dug between the rows of corn to the 
depth of the spading fork, and all earth that 
fell through the tines of the fork was allowed 
to remain in the trenches, a fine mellow soil 
being thus furnished to receive the plants. 
The plants were well watered after being 
set out, and the corn afforded sufficient shade 
to keep them from wilting in the heat of 
the summer sun, while at the same time 
allowing sufficient light and air to reach 
them to make them thrive. By the end 
of the first week in August the corn was. 
ready for the table, and as fast as it was used 
the stalks were cut and the sunshine gradually 
permitted to fall upon the now fully estab- 
lished plants. The ample space between 
the rows facilitated cultivation and banking 
up later in the season. By the latter part 
of August the corn was all cut and the 
celery was in excellent condition. 
Ground previously supposed to be unavail- 
able for such a crop has been producing ~ 
delicious celery for three years. 
Illinois. ROBERT BEBB. 
Pecan Nut Industry 
pa pecan growing is conducted in 
Texas ona paying basis may be judged 
from the fact that the crop of 1907 was esti- 
mated at over $1,500,000, of which $250,000 
worth of nuts was bought by New York deal- 
ers, at the exceedingly low figure of from eight 
to twelve cents a pound. The largest ship- 
ment on record in the industry—1,2000,000 
pounds of nuts or about fifty carloads — 
filled about half of the New York orders. 
