i66 



BUDS, BLOSSOMS, FRUITS. 



The horse grape-hoe made by D. S. Morgan & Co., 

 was planned by a western New York fruit-grower who 

 had more of hard work hoeing and grubbing grape and 

 berry rows on hand than he could do with the old fash- 

 ioned hand implements. 



The Jewett pecan is now considered one of the 

 choicest varieties, superior perhaps even to Stuart or Van 

 Daman. The kernel is large, and of ten comes out whole. 

 Nuts for planting are advertised for sale. The only 

 trouble is that seedlings are by no means sure to come 

 true to the parent type. 



Pyrethum roseum, the insect-powder plant is not 

 only most useful and interesting on account of its great 

 value as an insecticide, but it is as handsome a perennial as 

 any one can want for the flower-garden. It is easily grown 

 andapacketof seed can beboughtforadime. The flow- 

 ers, dried and pulverized constitute the insect-powder. 



Natural arrangement of cut-blooms is to be the rule 

 hereafter at the New York Chrysanthemum shows. A 

 rule to the effect that hereafter all flat arrangements of 

 cUt-flowers are to be debarred, was passed by the Society 

 of Florists at a recent meeting. And with the flat arrange- 

 ments must also go the dirty pots containing exhibition 

 plants. Other societies please copy. 



Heal the Barked Trees. — If a tree is barked in any 

 way, go to the cow-yard, get some fresh droppings and 

 bind them on the injured part, and leave for three 

 months. On removing the cloth the wound will have 

 healed and the tree will be saved. A little clay added 

 may prove a benefit. — R. M. Spragoe, Mich. [Grafting- 

 wax will do as well or better and is cleaner.] 



Blue Summer Flowers. — Were we asked to name six 

 blue-flowering seed-grown plants we should include 

 Imperial Dwarf ageratum, Browallia data grandifora, 

 Imperial Blue sweet-pea. Emperor William and Light 

 Blue pansies, Salvia paUns. By sowing the seed very 

 soon now in gentle heat, good-sized plants for bedding 

 should be ready by May. Verbenas might be sub- 

 stituted for one of the above. 



Nothing for Sale. — While the editors are glad to have 

 the assurance that their notes, based on actual garden 

 work on their 13-acre place, are appreciated as asserted 

 by many readers, yet when " B. W. O.," and others 

 apply to us desiring to buy seeds of certain flowers and 

 vegetables referred to in these columns we must reply 

 that it is our rule to sell nothing in that line. All such 

 inquiries are respectfully referred to the numerous adver- 

 tisers in our columns. 



Some Southern Air-Plants. — Have any of you tried 

 growing the southern gray moss in the window? I have 

 thatand the pineapple air-plant, both tillandsias, fastened 

 to an oak twig — the moss fastened upon the smaller twigs 

 and drooping in graceful streamers, the air-plant care- 

 fully wired to the central branch, the whole being 

 fastened at the shady side of a warm window, in such a 

 manner as to be readily detachable for the daily sprink- 

 ling which is its food and drink. During the summer I 

 give it a shady place outdoors, and it attracts much 

 attention from its oddity. — Elder's Wife. 



II. THRIFTY SAPLINGS. 



A Continental Insecticide. — Mr. Cazeneuve, in the 

 Journal d' Agriculture Pratique, describes the good 

 effects of sulphuret of carbon, mixed with an equal 

 quantity of vaseline, as an insecticide, especially for the 

 phylloxera. The use of the vaseline is to prevent the 

 rapid evaporation of the sulphuret of carbon, the great 

 objection to this otherwise valuable insecticide. Mr. 

 Cazeneuve has tripled has production of grapes since he 

 adopted the treatment. No phylloxera can be found oa 

 the roots of the vines. 



James Taplin, an accomplished and widely known 

 florist, died on January g, at his home in Maywood, 

 N. J., aged 5o years. On orchids and hothouse plants 

 generally the deceased has long been considered a high 

 authority. He was the father of Emily Louise Taplin, 

 who is well known by her delightful contributions to the 

 horticultural press a few years ago, and of two sons who 

 have followed their father's pursuit. 



Gaillardia cristata Templeana, on moderately poor 

 soil, is a most constant and profuse bloomer. Low and 

 compact in its growth for the genus, it presents a nea' 

 and cheerful appearance. It appears to follow the sun 

 as if absorbing its golden color. A bed of it on the lawn 

 south of any porch seemed, in the morning hours, to be 

 looking away from us ; while in the evening the ringed 

 flower-heads peered in our faces like so many pheasants. 

 The sun, setting in the northwest, had drawn them in 

 our direction. The plants were, always ready to flower, 

 and when frost came they were full of bloom and de- 

 veloping buds, and ready to continue until Christmas 

 if King Frost raised no objections. — W. C. E. 



Akebia quinata. — On poor soils this is but a common- 

 place vine, but give it good cultivation and it will surprise 

 you. It roots deeply and consequently stands drought. 

 It is one of the first in the spring to greet you with its 

 verdure, and among the last in the fall to desert you, 

 bearing company with Lo7zicera Halleana. For porch- 

 pillar decoration I know of no equal to it. Entirely 

 free from insect pests, closely clothed with refreshing, 

 almost delicate verdure from the base up, it adds a grace 

 and airiness to the porch decoration in strong contrast to 

 Ampelopsis quinquefolia so often used, or the bare- 

 stemmed wisteria. Its flowers are more curious than 

 handsome, and bear a slight seen t. On old stumpsortrees 

 sufficiently old to have roots that are too deeply em- 

 bedded to rob the akebia of its food, it will in time form 

 a drooping garland and show a handsome mass of 

 foliage.— W. C. E. 



Plants for the Window. — We find that by planting 

 several kinds of coleus in five-inch pots they do remark- 

 ably well, aud make a pretty show. I have six pots in 

 the window before me, all containing different kinds of 

 rooted cuttings of several weeks' growth. My greatest 

 trouble is the "mealybug"; but I intend to hand-pick 

 the pests every morning The temperature of the room 

 where the plants are kept never varies much from 70°. 

 I have success with begonias in the same temperature 



