.'. As a special inducement to lead our readers to contribute short 

 notes on cultural methods and devices, and to send in sketches and 

 photographs of choice plants, fruits, flowers, vegetables, garden 

 scenes, implements, etc., the publishers make the following offe:- 

 for alimitedtime : For any good article that occupies a half-column 

 or so of space, or for any sketch or photograph from which an 

 acceptable picture can be made for these columns, a yearns sub- 

 scription to this Journal will be given. The articles will be judged 

 only by the practical and useful ideas or suggestions in them. 

 Besides this premium, the gain accruing between readers by the 

 telling of experience should be a sufficient inducement to contribute 

 such notes. 



I. LITTLE TWIGS. 



Plant the school-yards. 



Clematises are easily grown in pots. 



Arbor-day is a blessing to the future. 



What latent beauty in a ten-cent packet of seeds ! 



For large pansies use soil that is one-third manure. 



Go THROUGH the whole catalogue of gifts to man, and 

 what can equal flowers and fruits ? — Shirley Hibbei-d. 



McLean's Little Gem I find is the surest first pea. 

 I have tried American Wonder more than once, and more 

 than once I have failed. — Margaret, Campbell, La. 



To Spray or Not to Spray. — This is the question with 

 horticulturists. You will find all about what, when and 

 how to spray, in May number of American Gardening. 



COB.EA scandens. — If you desire a window or balcony 

 climber of easy culture that always gives satisfaction, 

 we commend this vine. It may be grown from seeds or 

 slips. 



When looking about for edging-plants, don't overlook 

 that old favorite, sweet alyssum. Its bloom is fragrant ; 

 it lasts all summer ; it is one of the few plants that sur- 

 vive the early fall frosts. 



A root-puller, not for dentists but for use on the 

 lawn to remove dandelions, plantains, etc., is one of the 

 latest patented devices. It is a kind of forceps with a 

 lever attached, which serves as a pry in loosening the 

 root. 



Rome Beauty Apple. — Thousands of apple trees are 

 being set here in Lawrence county every year. The 

 Rome Beauty, which originated in this county, is the 

 leader, more being propagated than of all the other 

 varieties put together. 



Why Soak Garden Seed ? — Soaking may be all right 

 for such hard shells as canna and honey-locust, but for 

 most things plant in freshly stirred soil and firm well. 

 No more is needed to insure prompt germination if the 

 seed is good. 



A serviceable trowel has been received from W. B. 

 Cleves, Binghamton, N. Y. It is angular and ex- 

 tremely stout, one of the few implements of this kind 

 that are really made for business and not for play. 

 Surely there is a good amount of " wear" in it. 



Change of ownership is reported in the celebrated 

 English seedhouse of Thos. S. Ware, Tottenham, Lon- 

 don, Mr. Ware having sold all his interest in it to his 

 business manager, Francis Fell. The business will be 

 continued under the old firm name, "Thos. S. Ware." 



English Walnuts in the North. — In our city, about 

 65 miles west of New York, we have trees of the Eng- 

 lish walnut, which have borne some nuts. One, as 

 near as I can remember, is about 20 feet high, the other 

 smaller. Both, I believe, were raised from seed. — S. M. 

 Sheiner, Orange Co., iV. 



Americans Love Flowers. — The Duke of Marlbor- 

 ough, in a published letter, says that a peculiar quality of 

 wealthy Americans is their devotion to flowers ; that no 

 other people spend money so willingly and lavishly for 

 them. Well, this is a pardonable and refined sort of idola- 

 try which we hope will always flourish ! 



Gladiolus Propagation. — Gladioluses always come 

 true when propagated from the small bulblets. It takes 

 several seasons to grow them to a flowering size ; with 

 some growers longer than with others. A hint : if you 

 will peel off the outer husks of the small bulblets down 

 to the flesh, they will grow much more rapidly. 



The spring market for American apples in England, 

 notwithstanding the recent Paris green scare, is quite 

 lively. Quotations in early February for sound stock, 

 were Baldwins and Golden Russets, $3.40 to I4.80 per 

 barrel ; Greenings, $3.40 to $3.90 ; Newtown Pippins, 

 $4.47 to $6 ; various other varieties, $2.gi to $4.40. 



Kainit a remedy for wire-worms and cut-worms — that 

 is what the New Jersey Station insists it is. We believe 

 it. At any rate, it has seemed to give us relief from 

 these and other insects. We also use muriate of potash, 

 or solutions of it, as an insecticide, and with it we kill 

 greenfly on trees and plants, worms on currants and 

 gooseberries, maggots on radishes, etc. These potash 

 salts are worth the trial. 



