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AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



February, 1908 



i" 





This is where we manufacture our Monarch Porcelain Ware 

 Trenton, New Jersey 



Uniformity §f Design 



Architects DO appreciate the fact that by specifying 

 Wolff Plumbing Material exclusively they are 

 protecting their clients from the annoying con- 

 fusion of design and mechanical standards that 

 is sure to creep into even the most carefully 

 selected line of "assembled" plumbing equipment. 



L. WOLFF 



MANUFACTURING 

 COMPANY 



Established 1855 



Manufacturers of PLUMBING GOODS EXCLUSIVELY 



The Only Complete Line Made by Any One Firm 



Showrooms: 91 Dearborn St. 

 Denver CHICAGO Trenton 



$5 



Sent 

 to one 



address 



9 



9 

 9 



American Homes and Gardens 

 ana Scientific American 



9 

 9 



9 



Regular 

 Price 



$6 



The Scientific American Boy 



By A. RUSSELL BOND 



12mo. 320 Pain. 340 Illustrations. Price. $2 00. Postpaid. 



^fT This is a story of outdoor boy life, suggesting a large num- 

 H ber of diversions which, aside from affording entertainment, 

 ^^"» will stimulate in boys the creative spirit. In each instance 

 complete practical instructions are given for building the various 

 articles. <J The needs of the boy camper are supplied by the direc- 

 tions for making tramping outfits, sleeping bags and tents ; also 

 such other shelters as tree houses, straw huts, log cabins and caves. 

 €J The winter diversions include instructions for making six kinds of 

 skate sails and eight kinds of snowshoes and skis, besides ice boats, 

 scooters, sledges, toboggans and a peculiar Swedish contrivance 

 called a "rennwolf." If Among the more instructive subjects cov- 

 ered are surveying, wigwagging, heliographing and bridge-building, 

 in which six different kinds of bridges, including a simple can- 

 tilever bridge, are described. 



FOR SALE AT ALL BOOKSTORES 



fall attend to them now. Thin out bushes 

 whose last season's growth forms a tangle of 

 branches. Cut away all weak wood. Head 

 back rampant growth. If possible, cut out all 

 old growth, leaving only what is strong and 

 vigorous. Too many persons neglect their 

 currants and gooseberries until they have be- 

 come diseased. Then they uproot the old 

 plants, and set out new ones, thus losing a 

 season's crop of fruit. By pruning judiciously 

 each year, and removing old branches and all 

 superfluous ones, it is an easy matter to keep 

 these plants so strong and healthy that it will 

 not be necessary to set out new ones. So train 

 the old ones that they are constantly renewing 

 themselves. 



Arrange for a liberal supply of manure for 

 the garden in advance of the season. This 

 applies, it will be understood, to barnyard 

 manures, which are best of all for vegetable 

 gardens, in the opinions of our most successful 

 gardeners. Commercial fertilizers are valu- 

 able as substitutes, and where one can get 

 nothing else, but it is generally admitted by 

 those who are in a position to know, from 

 long personal experience, that barnyard ma- 

 nures contain the essential elements of plant- 

 life in a greater degree than any others. 



Do not fail to give cellar-stored bulbs and 

 tubers a frequent examination. Promptly 

 remove such as show a tendency to decay. 



Plants stored in the cellar may require 

 watering. But if the soil retains some degree 

 of moistness, be satisfied with that. More 

 moisture at the roots might cause premature 

 growth. Aim to keep these plants perfectly 

 dormant, if possible, until they are removed 

 from the cellar and conditions are favorable 

 to a renewal of growth. 



The flower-garden should not be overlooked 

 when plans for the coming season are made. 

 If any hardy plants struck you as having got 

 into the wrong places, plan to make such 

 changes as will get them where they belong. 

 Much of the attractiveness of a plant de- 

 pends on its being located where it has the 

 opportunity to display to the best advantage. 

 It may be necessary to experiment somewhat 

 before the right place is found, but it must 

 be found before satisfaction is given by it. 

 This is equally true of shrubs and annuals. 

 Indiscriminate, haphazard planting is re- 

 sponsible for most of our garden failures. It 

 pays to put a good deal of thought on this 

 matter. Our past failures, if properly con- 

 sidered, may be the steps by which success is 

 ultimately arrived at. 



If any shrubs seem to have outlived their 

 usefulness, and the chances of renewing them 

 are slight, root them up, and arrange to set 

 out new ones in their place, when spring 

 comes. Discard every shrub that is in any 

 respect inferior. With so many excellent' 

 kinds at our disposal one is foolish to give 

 place to anything not possessing great merit. 



The plants in the window should be given 

 the best of care, for they will be — or, at any 

 rate, they ought to be — doing their best in the 

 way of flowering at this season. Shower sev- 

 eral times a week to keep the red spider in 

 check. Apply fertilizers to such as are grow- 

 ing actively, or have begun to bloom. Give 

 fresh air and all the sunshine possible. 



Here is a suggestion about ordering flower 

 seeds that may interest the woman who loves 

 flowers. Club your order with a few of your 

 neighbors, and instead of ordering mixed 

 seeds, as you probably would if you ordered 

 alone, get packages in which each color is by 

 itself. These packages will contain enough 

 to supply several gardens with all those of 

 one color that will be cared for by one person. 

 Much greater satisfaction is secured by plant- 

 ing the several colors by themselves than is 

 possible where mixed seed is used. 



