XVI 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GA 



RDENS 



February, 1907 



SAN I TAS 



The Washable Wall Covering 



SANITAS is the 20th Century wall covering because it is 

 the most enduring, the most cleanly, the most satisfactory 

 hanging made. It is better than paper because it does not 

 tear or fade and because it can be kept fresh and bright. A 

 damp cloth cleans it. 



It is as beautiful as any material now sold for walls, and 

 its range of patterns includes printed burlaps, plain tints, 

 tapestry and floral designs and many glazed tiles and tints. 



There is no room of a house which cannot be beautified 

 by SANITAS. 



Write for samples and room sketches. 



The Leatherole Company 



24 East 22d St. New York 



SYKES 



TWO BEST LATHS rN THE WORLD 



METAL LATH a ROOFING CO.'* "JiVSr'^ 



JRBROOKSeCo,CLg^Ej^»0' 



lEooR&SiDEWALK Lights. 



F EVERY DESCRIPTION. 



SENDf^PCATALOGUE. 



"THROUGH FRISCO'S FURNACE" = 



Illustrations of seven modern steel-frame buildings at San Francisco that withstood the earthquakes and fire 

 of April 18, 1906, with reports on the rust-resisting qualities of Dixon's Silica-Graphite Paint on the 

 steelwork. Write for a free copy of Book No. B 106. 



JOSEPH DIXON CRUCIBLE CO., JERSEY CITY, U.S.A. 



much is said about them, the amateur is given 

 the impression that these are the very things 

 she ought to buy. This is not the case. These 

 are the things for her to let alone until some 

 one else, who can afford to experiment with 

 them, has proved them meritorious. Then, 

 if she sees fit to do so, she can add them to 

 her list, but now her attention should be con- 

 centrated on plants about whose merits there 

 can be no question — the good old kinds 

 which have done splendid duty for a genera- 

 tion or more, and which will continue to be 

 grown after ninety-nine out of every hundred 

 "novelties" have passed into the oblivion of 

 worthless plants. 



The best flowers for the amateur are : Aster, 

 balsam, phlox, petunia, marigold, calliopsis, 

 verbena, portulacca, pansy, eschscholtzia, 

 snapdragon, scabiosa, stock, mignonette, 

 sweet alyssum, nasturtium, sweetpea, and 

 morning glory. I would not advise any be- 

 ginner to try growing all these. Better con- 

 centrate the first year's work on a few kinds, 

 and endeavor to grow these few well, than to 

 "scatter one's ammunition." 



The plants in the window-garden ought to 

 be blooming well now. Give weekly appli- 

 cations of fertilizer. Turn them at least once 

 a week, to prevent them from being drawn 

 so much to the light that there is danger of 

 their becoming permanently one-sided. Shower 

 them frequently. Three times a week is 

 three times better than once a week. Six times 

 a week is better still, in the living-room, 

 where the air is hot and dry. 



Keep all fading flowers cut off. Allow no 

 dead or dying leaves to remain upon your 

 plants. Never pick off these leaves and leave 

 them on the soil or among the pots, as that is 

 a sure means of encouraging and perpetuating 

 disease. Burn them. 



Stir the soil in the pot frequently. This 

 prevents weeds from growing. It also allows 

 air to get to the roots of the plants and facili- 

 tates evaporation, thus safe-guarding many 

 plants against all danger of sour soil. Let in all 

 the sunshine possible, and, along with it, 

 plenty of fresh air. 



HOW TO START EXTRA-EARLY 

 VEGETABLES FOR HOME USE 



By S. L. de Fabry 



THE growing, or better, starting of early 

 vegetables three to four weeks ahead of 

 time is simple. An old soap box, a little 

 rich soil, a sunny window corner, good seeds, 

 and, still better, care, and the thing is accom- 

 plished. You don't need any greenhouse: a 

 small table placed near the window in the 

 kitchen or sitting-room will sufl'ice to hold 

 two boxes of the size of an ordinary soap box, 

 and in them enough plants of a variety suited 

 for the wants of an average family can be 

 grown. 



Two soap boxes are sawed in half, cross 

 wise, so that the sides are from four to five 

 inches high. Then the box is filled with rich 

 garden soil, well mixed with about one-quarter 

 of fine, well-rotted manure, and is ready now 

 to receive the seed. 



Good seed is of importance, and only re- 

 liable seed men should be patronized. Other- 

 wise the care and labor will be lost. After the 

 boxes are filled, the soil should be well watered 

 with luke-warm water and the seeds planted 

 while the soil is still moist. 



Little furrows are drawn lengthwise with a 

 piece of wood about two inches apart, the seed 

 placed in them so they do not touch one an- 

 other. The furrows are then lightly covered 

 with soil, and the boxes are placed on a small 



