BUDS, BLOSSOMS, FRUITS. 



increase of roots, in circumstances favorable through 

 the abundance of food. It is said that in this case no 

 trouble is anticipated for the future, as it is believed that 

 a bucketful or two of brine, passed through the drain 

 once or twice a year, will effectually scorch off any fibers 

 that may attempt the same frolic in future. But where 

 this remedy cannot be applied, it will be well not to have 

 drains in the vicinity of the roots of trees. 



Wire-Worms. — After three years of experimenting to 

 find a protection to crops against these worms, at the 

 Cornell university station, the professors are obliged to 

 declare that they have failed to discover a single effectual 

 means of destroying the worms in the soil or of protect- 

 ing seeds from their ravages. One of the things under- 

 taken was to determine which of several ways recom- 

 mended for operating against wire-worms was the best, 

 but not one of these was found effective. The true wire- 

 worm referred to is the larva of the click-beetle or 

 snapping-bug, a slender yellowish white worm with an 

 unusually hard body. 



The Carnation needs a special soil of well-rotted 

 manure and clay, equal parts of each, with a little sand 

 to make it porous. Good drainage is indispensable, as 

 the plant requires a copious supply of water, on both 

 the roots and foliage. Syringe frequently to keep the red- 

 spider in check. Young plants give the best satisfaction. 

 When lifted and potted in September, they will soon 

 begin to set buds, and will bloom all winter if kept near 

 the glass in a cool room. In spring they can be planted 

 out in the flower-garden, and will bloom till frost. Slips 

 from the old plants should be taken in February or 

 March. They require a low temperature in rooting. 

 Put the slips in small pots or cans, and do not allow them 

 to dry out. Thus the carnation can be easily perpetu- 

 ated. — May Frost. 



A Caution Regarding Blue-Grass.— Usually when 

 blue-grass is spoken of, the species Pan praleiisis, com- 

 monly known as Kentucky blue-grass, is meant. It is 

 important, therefore, to note that a closely allied species, 

 Poa compressa, is also catalogued by some dealers as blue- 

 grass, being distinguishedas Canadian blue-grass. This 

 species is next to worthless for lawns, and haslittle or no 

 value as fodder, being so hard that animals do not relish 

 it, hence its other common name, wire grass. Where 

 known, it is usually looked upon as a pest hard to 

 eradicate when once established. When ordering blue- 

 grass seed for the lawn insist on getting Poa pratcnsis. 



Draw the Line Here. — Because the term rosarian is 

 considered in good form as applying to rose-growers, 

 seems to be considered sufficient reason for certain en- 

 thusiastic members of the New American Carnation 

 Society seriously to call themselves carnationists. This 

 the American Florist delights to see, at the same time that 

 it goes equally far in adopting the term chrysanthists 

 for chrysanthemum-growers and orchidists for orchid- 

 growers. If you start off this way, gentlemen, where 

 will the matter end.' Certainly not short of our having 

 palmists, tulipites, violetarians, begonians, etc., with 

 our cousins among fruit and vegetable-growers styling 



themselves respectively plumists, pearasites, straw- 

 berryers and, quite as sweet as any other, onionarians! 

 We suggest that the line be drawn sharply just here. 



Onions can be kept for winter use in the attic or garret. 

 Thus the odor does not get through the house. Freezing 

 does not injure them. In cold weather cover them with 

 a piece of old carpet. Cabbage can also be kept in the 

 same place. We who live in city houses heated with 

 furnaces have to be people of expediency, and we some- 

 times envy country people who can store their cellars 

 full for winter use. — E. W. L., Schenectady Co., N. Y. 



The Tatarian Honeysuckle as a Bird-Feeder. — 

 During the berry-season the robins have but little 

 choice between the seeds of these bushes and the rasp- 

 berries. If disturbed in the berry-fields, they content- 

 edly settle down on this otherwise worthless fruit. It is 

 very abundant, and is therefore a great help to berry- 

 growers. As a fioriferous bush the honeysuckle ranks 

 high, and it is also of value for the bees, but its highest, 

 worth is to feed the robins. — E. P. Powell. 



Cellar Way Plant-Pit. — A subscriber sends us a de- 

 _ scription and 



- - sketches o f a 



\ plan to utilize 



i anoutdoor 



cellar-way as a 

 plant-pit. The 

 c e 1 1 a r - w a y 

 almost invari- 

 ably is made to 

 face the south, 

 and is thus in 

 the right situa- 

 tion. All that 

 IS needed is to 

 substitute glass 

 for the wooden 

 doors, and 



Cellar-way as Plant-pit. 

 make everything snug and 



tight, banking with earth if 

 thought necessary. The 

 inner cellar door is left open, 

 and danger from freezing thus . 

 avoided. The cellar steps I 

 serve as plant-shelves. 



How High is the Tree? — 

 There may be a favorite shade, 

 tree the height of which you 

 desire to know. In these days 

 of town, suburban and rail, 

 road improvements it often 

 happens, also, that trees in the 

 way of improvements have to 

 be sacrificed, and the owneris 

 entitled to be well paid for Cellar-way 

 them. It then becomes 

 portant to establish values, and if you can state the 

 height of any given specimen thus to be sacrificed, and can 

 thus demonstrate the correctness of your figure, the tree 



Plant- 

 pit. Cross Section. 



