September, 1911 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS ix 
GARDEN NOTES 
This de; ent is conducted by an experienced and Risctcal landscape architect, who extends an invitation to the readers of 
AMERICAN H 
OMES AND GARDENS to send to the 
arden Ecitcr inquiries cn any matter pertaining to the developing of the 
garden and the home grounds. Letters accompanied by return postage will be answered promptly by mail. Replies that are of general benefit 
will be published in this department. 
Peony Planting for September 
By NORMAN L. CHESTER 
planting. Although some successful 
gardeners prefer to plant in the spring, 
it is generally conceded that fall planting 
is better. In selecting varieties, one will 
find the single, double and the Japanese 
types valuable for effects. Of the single 
varieties, the Fiancée (white), the Clio 
(pink) and the Monsieur Marsaux (red) 
are excellent for a choice. The Japanese 
varieties, Gwyn-Lewis (white) and Riene 
Potard (red) will be found very satisfac- 
tory, while the double white Virgo Maria, 
which blossoms late, the pink Triomphe du 
Nord and the fine red Duchesse de Nemours 
will be welcome additions to any garden. 
In addition to these sorts, there are the 
semi- double varieties — couronne d’Or 
(white), Marguerite Gérard (pink) and 
Armandine Mechin (red) ; the Crown va- 
rieties—pink Octave Demay ; the rose varie- 
ties—Avalanche (white), Stewart’s America 
(pink) and Constant Devried (red). One 
will have a choice between the ordinary 
herbaceous Peonies and the tree Peony. 
The latter are woody shrubs, often reaching 
a height of three feet; but it is a more dif- 
ficult plant to cultivate, as it requires care- 
ful watching and protection in the early 
spring, being an early-budding plant. The 
tree varieties are also of much slower 
growth than the herbaceous varieties, and 
for this reason have never become so 
popular in the garden, though their beauti- 
ful full blossoms should lead them to be 
less neglected. In planting, one should re- 
member that Peonies require much moisture 
and some shade, though they should never 
be planted either in wet places or under 
heavy tree foliage. In fact, Peonies should 
be given a position quite away from close 
proximity to trees, as tree roots will sap 
their energy. 
The middle of September is the best 
Peony planting time. Set out the roots so 
the crowns will be four inches below the 
soil surface, and four feet apart. Remem- 
ber that Peonies blossom but a month every 
season, and plan their ultimate effect with 
this in mind. Of course, their foliage is 
green from early spring to late fall, and 
forms an attractive adjunct to the shrub- 
bery. Peonies require a rich soil; in fact, 
one can hardly find too rich a position for 
them in the garden. 
Siauia is the month for Peony 
BULB PLANTING 
As September is the bulb - planting 
month, the garden-maker will do well to 
make his selections immediately, and send 
to his nurseryman without delay for the 
bulbs that are to bring a wealth of gorgeous 
color to his garden in the springtime. The 
experienced gardener will already have 
consulted the floral catalogues and will have 
his list already before him; but there is 
still time enough, for bulbs may go into the 
ground the fifteenth of the month. In plant- 
ing, bear in mind the fact that large, fine 
bulbs should be chosen if proportionate 
blossoms are to be expected the first season. 
As a general rule, bulbs are apt to be 
planted too near the surface. A good rule 
to follow in this connection is to place the 
bulb twice its own: height below*'the soil 
level. Fertilizers should never come in 
direct contact with the bulb, and it is well 
to rest the rooting end of the bulb on a 
thin sprinkling of sand. 
In answer to a reader in Ohio, the fol- 
lowing bulbs are recommended for a suc- 
cession of bloom: Crocus Scilla and Ga- 
lanthus, for February, March and early 
April; Jonquils and Daffodils, for April; 
Tulip and Narcissus, for May; Alliwm au- 
reum and Lilium Canadense, for June. 
MATURITY OF FRUIT TREES 
A reader in Connecticut, who is planning 
a small orchard for her garden next year, 
writes to ask how long after the setting out 
of fruit trees the various species come to 
maturity and become valuable as_ fruit- 
bearers. Apples bear in three years, but 
ten must be allowed for a good crop. Two 
years’ growth will produce fruit from peach 
trees, and five years bring them to a profit- 
able state. Twice this time should be al- 
lowed for pear trees, two years for the 
quince, with four to bring it to a valuable 
crop, while plum trees produce fruit in 
three years and yield an abundance of fruit 
in Six. 
PERENNIALS NOT TO MOVE 
The amateur gardener must exercise 
great care in thinning hardy perennials this 
month, not to attempt to remove such plants 
as the Yucca, Chrysanthemum, Japanese 
Anemone, Tritoma, and if young plants of 
the Sweet William, Foxglove and Holly- 
hock have not been transferred to other 
locations by the middle of the month they 
must not, on any account, be disturbed 
later. 
SELECTING DAHLIAS 
September’s advent brings with it the cul- 
mination of the Dahlia season, and if one 
has neglected this lovely flower it will be 
an excellent thing for him to peep into his 
neighbor’s garden while these plants are 
in their most perfect blossoming, and to 
make note of the varieties he sees there that 
please him most, in order that he may se- 
lect those of his choice for his own garden 
another season. Indeed, everyone inter- 
ested in gardening, no matter to what ex- 
tent, should keep by him a notebook in 
which he may jot down from month to 
month observations of just this sort, which 
will prove of great value to him ultimately. 
WATERING LAWNS DURING DROUGHT 
The blazing sun of these September days 
brings havoc to many of our lawns. Re- 
course to the hose is not in itself sufficient 
if one does not know how a lawn during a 
drought should be watered. At sundown or 
at sunrise the lawn should be soaked by 
dropping water; nothing rips up the sod so 
completely as pointing a nozzle-stream di- 
rectly at it. As for a mere sprinkling, the 
The New Berry 
Vine grows 40 feet a year 
Hardy as an oak st 
any part of the co 
crops of rich, bl 
been gathered fre 
ly an inch long, 
aL 
Berrydale Experiment Gardens 
American Ave. Holland, Mich. 
Old and Husky Weeds Will Fade 
away if jabbed with a deadly dandelion pill. 500 
Pills and ‘‘Jabstick’’ prepaid, $1.00. No backache. 
Money back if you are not satisfied. 
WILLIAM A. SPINKS & CO. 
362 WEST ERIE STREET, CHICAGO 
THE LENOX FLOWER SPRAYER 
» For Indoor Plants 
[, We want every lover of plants 
to see this flower sprayer and 
gfNDFOR look at it twice ee times 
C i 
would be better. Not a squirter; 
IReyiB8 a sprayer, for indoor and veranda 
use. Pressing upon a minutely 
2 perforated strong elastic bulb 
Price includes two extra bulbs ejects a misty spray reaching 
and a cake of tohacco soap plants under and over the leaves 
4 ft. high. A lecture, ‘Success with Flowers,” in printed torm sent free 
to everybody. Exclusive agencies given in every town. 
THE H. LENOX SPRAYER CO. 
165 West 23rd Street New York 
$1,00 postpaid 
SHEEP MANURE 
Dried and pulverized. No waste and no 
weeds Best fertilizer for lawns—gardens— 
trees—shrubs—vegetables and fruit. 
$4 00 Large barrel, freight prepaid East of 
s. Missouri River—Cash with order. 
Write for interesting booklet and quantity 
prices. 
THE PULVERIZED MANURE CO. 
21 Union Stock Yards Chicago, Ill. 
MIOLES srewnie Bean 
Send 25 cents for enough beans for small lawn or garden, 
or $1.00 for carton containing over 500 beans. 
BROWNIE CHEMICAL CO., 
© —K ALAK A we 
j Mixed seed and fertilizer that comes up where everything else 
™ failed. Allitneedsis soil and moisture. Cheaper than common 
5 lb. box express prepaid east of Missouri river $1.00, 
4 I$ or west of the river for £1.25. Our instructive booklet, “‘How 
\} to Make a Lawn,** FREE. Written by experts; solves every 
\ W grass problem—a big help. Send forit tonight. 
: 25 Exchange Ave., 
<4 The Kalaka Co., °°? a 
Union Stock Yards 
Bound Brook, N. J 
Chicago, Il. 
~“Farr’s Hardy Plants”—A book 
that tells about the wonderful Irises, Peonies, Poppies and 
C= Anemones that have made Wyomissing famous, besides numer- 
ous other garden treasures. More than a mere catalogue—Free. 
Bertrand H. Farr, Wyomissing Nurseries. 643 E Penn St, Reading, Pa. : 
$25,000.00 from one-half 
S acre. Easily grown 
throughout U. S. and 
Canada. Our booklet AV tells particulars. Send 4 cents for postage. 
McDOWELL GINSENG GARDEN, Joplin, Mo. 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED 
FIRST: The only Sanitary method of 
caring for garbage, deep in the ground in 
metal receiver holding heavy galvanized 
bucket with bail. Odorless, proof against 
: rats, cats and dogs, or the smaliter, death 
Opens with the Foot dealing pest, the house fly. Health de- 
mands it. 
No Odor 
| Underground Garbage Receiver 
nem Underfloor Refuse Receiver 
“=| Underground Earth Closet 
SECOND: This clean, convenient 
way of disposing of kitchen ashes, cel- 
lar and yard refuse, does away with the 
ash or dirt barrel nuisance. Stores 
your oily waste and sweepings. Fire- 
proof, flush with garage floor. 
THIRD: It supplies a 
a safe and sanitary 
is sac 8 method to keep your | 
“i water supply safe from 
polludion. It prevents 
danger from the house or typhoid fly, around 
camp or farm, disseminating its poisonous germs 
to your family. Nine Years in practical use. 
It pays to look us up. 
Sold direct. Send for Circulars on each 
Cc. H. STEPHENSON, fe. 
21 Farrar Street Lynn, Mass. 
Easy to sweep into 
ia 
eS. 
ACamp Necessil) (i SEE 
