.•.As a special inducement to lead our readers to contribute slwi t 

 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 offer 

 for a limited time: For any good article that occupies a half-columu 

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

 acceptable picture can be made for these columns, a year's sub- 

 scription to this magazine 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 to readers should be a 

 sufficient inducement to contribute such notes. 



I. LITTLE TWIGS. 



CoLEUS-PLANTS will bloom and seed, but this does not 

 add to their beauty. 



Willing berry-pickers may be secured by growing 

 clean rows of large berries. 



For rapid growth in tree and shrub-groups, keep the 

 soil about them absolutely free from weeds. 



Do birds prefer particular kinds of trees for their 

 nests? European naturalists say that they do. 



The dahlia likes a moister atmosphere than we usually 

 have. Syringing the plants at night will help to supply 

 the need. 



Large grape-leaves are often cut from the vines to 

 admit light and air to the fruit. We do not commend 

 the custom. 



The Iceland Poppy is reported variable by English 

 gardeners. On the editors' grounds its form and color 

 are permanent 



To Nurserymen: Please give with Hydran^rci fanic- 

 idala gra}iditlo7-a, its common name of "plumed 

 hydrangea" in your catalogues. 



For a cheap hand-weeder, an old case-knife, ground 

 on both sides, heated and bent about two inches from the 

 point, does splendidly. — R. N. Moody, .[la. 



Bride Gladiolus. — Spikes cut when their first flower 

 begins to expand, and placed in water in a cool, dark 

 place, will open whiter than if left upon the plant. 



Carrots do well on sod ground, without much ma- 

 nure or excessive soil fertility. To have tender roots in 

 late fall and winter, sow Chantenay or Short-Horn now. 



Thinning Fruit. — Try this plan with some of your 

 trees, now while the fruit is half-grown, all you to whom 

 the practice is new. Begin with pear trees and thin the 

 thickly set. 



fruit one-half if 



Strap-leaf turnips are frequently mentioned as a 

 crop to be grown for green manuring. Who can tell us 

 whether they really have any value for such a purpose ? 

 In what way will they enrich the soil ? 



It is less work to keep a garden or border absolutely- 

 clean, than half clean. The secret lies in never permit- 

 ting a weed to attain any size. It is a great gain, also, 

 for the next season, not to let a weed-seed develop. 



The Vegetable Canning Industry. — The figures 

 representing the pack of corn and tomatoes for a number 

 of years past, given in our May number, were gathe.'ed 

 by the American Grocer of New York, and are trust- 

 worthy. 



Good Cabbages. — When we want best quality, we 

 plant Savoys, but to be sure of good cabbage-heads under 

 conditions none too good, we plant Winnigstadt. On 

 Francis Brill's advice we try the new Nonesuch in a 

 general way. 



Sheep Manure for Pot-Plants. A Cycas revolula 

 recently sent out a tier of 33 leaves, and some of them 

 are now 56 inches long. I think this unusual growth is 

 due to the liberal use of sheep manure. — Geo. G. Byram, 

 AVtt' Jersey. 



Tea-Culture in Florida. — A trial plantation was set 

 near Lawtey some years ago. The editor of the Florida 

 Dispatch says that this plantation has of late been 

 neglected, but the bushes show that the soil and climate 

 suits them well. 



A PEAR tree in a neighbor's yard is surrounded by a 

 flower-bed six feet in diameter, kept well enriched and 

 cultivated. The tree is making an annual growth of 

 three or four feet, and bears abundantly. It is a strik- 

 ing contrast to some grass-bound trees near it. — W. E. 

 Bowman. 



The Wild Garden at Woodbanks. — Three-fourths of 

 an acre of uncultivated, partly wooded land, planted with 

 many kinds of plants, shrubs, etc., gives us more enjoy- 

 ment for the outlay than any other part of our grounds. 

 It has no care and no cultivation, yet is full of beautiful 

 wild-flowers, foliage and berries. 



Don't sow weeds, and don't grow them. A barn- 

 ful of hay at twelve dollars a ton is cheaper than the 

 plentiful ten-dollar hay, because it is freer from weeds. 

 I cannot afford to hoe or pay for weeds sown in ma- 

 nure from foul hay. I believe no farmer can be suc- 

 cessful who sows and grows weeds. — E. P. Powell. 



