260 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



May, 1914 



Beautify and Protect Your Grounds and Buildings 



No other single improvement can add such an air of dignity, 

 exclusiveness and safety to your property — Suburban Home, 

 Town House, or Country Estate — as a Stewart Iron Fence — ■ 

 "The Standard of the World." It costs nothing for up-keep, 

 and affords permanent and effective protection against idlers, 

 trespassers, stray animals, etc. 



There is a Stewart Fence for everybody — For almost every 

 purpose — At a variety of prices — From the finest hand- 

 wrought to inexpensive machine-made designs. We shall 

 be glad to help you select a design and furnish estimate 

 if you will advise us of your wishes. Booklet on request. 



THE STEWART IRON WORKS CO. Dept. "D," Cincinnati, Ohio 



Iron Vases, Settees, Garden 

 and Drinking Fountains 



"The World's Greatest Iron Fence Works." 



Iron Statuary, Stable Fittings, 

 Lamp Standards, and Lanterns 



WARREN H. COLSON 

 184 Boylston Street, Boston 



is a liberal buyer of old letters bear- 

 ing stamps, stamp collections, and 

 autographs. The advanced collector 

 is offered selection from one of the 

 largest and without exception the 

 choicest stock of stamps in America. 

 Mr. Colson is prepared to travel and 

 meet clients in person anywhere. 



fCEWANEt 



rivate Water Supply Plants . — I 

 Sewage Disposal Plants — Gasoline Storage Tanks and Pumps 



jnt on Request 

 KEWANEE WATER SUPPLY COMPANY 



Genuine Panama 



$122 



To prove our wonderful maker-to-wearer 

 W values in genuine Panamas, we will send you this 

 genuine imported Panama, like J5.00 kind but 

 broader weave; fiexiDle, durable ' and comfortable, 

 ircly blocked: boxed and prepaid for only $1.00. Not 

 over 3 to a customer. Money back if not pleased. State size. Write 

 today for our free sale catalogue of Mexican and Panama hats, all 

 styles and prices. 

 FRANCIS E. LESTER CO., Dept. S.E.5H., Mesilla Park, N- M. 



Practical Real Estate Methods 



By Thirty New York Experts 



Net $2.00 Postage 20 cents 



Doubleday, Page & Co., Garden City, N.Y. 



Second 

 Big Printing 



Frontis- 

 piece 



Net 

 $1.35 



By the Authors of 



" The Golden Silence, ' 



"Set in Silver, " etc. 



The 

 Romance 



of an 



American 



Girl in 



the East 



The Boston Transcript says: "Few writers have so well caught the atmosphere of the people 

 and the places. The Williamsons have writted no better story than this and none with so 

 many odd ramifications and perplexing mysteries. The whole story pulsates with life." 



DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & CO. 



GARDEN CITY, N. Y. 



Hardy Perennials From Seed 



FOR the last four years I have raised hardy per- 

 ennials from seed, with a marked degree of 

 success and but a small outlay of money. 



The seeds were selected and ordered very early, 

 as soon as the catalogues were received in January. 

 The very best varieties, highest priced, selected 

 seeds only were bought; no cheap mixtures were 

 considered worth time and patience, as even the 

 best were quite inexpensive. 



Early in the spring, from a florist, some small 

 flat boxes were secured, such as are used in green- 

 houses for seed planting. If it is not easy to get 

 little boxes from a florist, any common wooden 

 box can be sawed so that it is low and flat, to hold 

 two or three inches of soil. The bottom of the box 

 must have small holes bored in it to allow for drain- 

 age; otherwise the soil may become too soggy during 

 a wet spell of weather. Stuff the holes with a bit 

 of old moss, or anything that will not allow the soil 

 to sift out but will let the water through. 



Use any garden soil provided that it is not 

 too full of clay, so that it will pack down solidly. 

 Sift the soil to make it fine. If you have no sieve 

 make one from a bit of old wire screen, by fastening 

 the wire on to the bottom of a box. If the soil 

 seems a little heavy add sand to lighten it. 



Fill the boxes, pressing the soil down firmly with 

 a flat board. Be sure that the soil fills the box 

 evenly, and is well pressed down, so that it will not 

 wash unevenly when watered. Do not fill the box 

 up to the top — leave an inch or more of space to 

 allow for watering. 



After the soil is ready, mark little even drills 

 with a sharp stick. It is better to sow the seeds in 

 rows, especially if you are unfamiliar with the 

 embryo leaves, as it is then easier to tell what comes 

 up, for in the best of soil you will find weeds galore. 



Do not sow the seeds too thickly. The average 

 seed packet contains such a quantity that there is 

 always a temptation to sow wastefully. Try to 

 drop the seeds at least a half inch apart. 



The drills or little seed rows should be quite 

 shallow, so that when the seeds are covered they will 

 have over them soil only to the depth of five times 

 their diameter. This is not easy to gauge as so 

 many seeds are so very tiny. 



After dropping the seeds in the little drills, press 

 back the soil with the' fingers and then press them 

 down well with a flat board. 



Do not water directly on top of the ground. 

 Direct watering, before germination, is too apt to 

 disturb and wash out the seeds as well as produce a 

 crust on top of the soil, through which it is hard for 

 the little green leaves to force a way. 



Cover each box with a sheet of newspaper, press- 

 ing it down so that it will be like a square cup on 

 top of the soil. With a watering can, water on top 

 of the newspaper so that there is an inch or more 

 of water standing. The water will slowly and 

 evenly percolate through the newspaper, thoroughly 

 wetting the soil without disturbing the seeds. 



Sow the seeds and put out the boxes as early in 

 the spring as you feel assured that frost is over. 

 Choose a place outdoors, to set them where the sun 

 shines part of the day and there is shade part of 

 the time. Hot dry sun is not good for seedlings, 

 neither is complete shade. Under the edge of 

 shrubbery or trees where the leaves make some 

 shadow is the best. Do not place the boxes up 

 against the foundation of the house. 



The advantage of using the little boxes over 

 planting directly in the beds, is due to the easy 

 control of sun and 'shade, for the boxes can be 

 picked up and easily sheltered, while the seed bed 

 cannot. Neither can one control the heavy rains 

 that will wash down into gullies the best prepared 

 beds. 



In case of heavy downpour, it is well to pick up 

 the boxes and place them under shelter, as nothing 

 is harder on seedlings than pelting rain. 



If the weather is wet, the paper covering cannot 

 be left on much more than twenty-four hours with- 

 out danger of making the soil mould. Keep the 

 papers on during the day and take them off at night, 

 or better, as soon as the sun has set. 



After the first watering on top of the newspaper, 

 use a little sprinkling can with very fine holes, so as 

 to water gently. Little toy watering cans made 

 for children are fine for this purpose. Do not water 



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