502 



CLiRRENl GARDEN LORE. 



The time of maturing the seeds extends from the latter 

 part of July until frost comes. This weed is found in 

 nearly every state in the Union east of the Rocky moun- 



RaGWEED {Amhroiia artemiticcfolia). 



tains, and in nearly all the provinces of the Dominion of 

 Canada. Ragweed may be eradicated by the following 

 means: (i.) Drop out of the rotation such crops as ripen 

 along with the ragweed. (2.) Give much attention to 

 autumn cultivation. (3.) Mow the fields that have been 

 sown to grass closely just before any of the seeds ripen, 

 and leave whatever vegetation has fallen to lie upon the 

 ground. (4.) Give attention to pastures and fence-cor- 

 ners. (5.) Grow hoed crops to the greatest possible extent, 

 and make sure that none of the seeds of ragweed are 

 allowed to ripen in them. The summer cultivation will 

 favor the germination of the seeds. (6.) Use the mower 

 on the highways at the right season. If the state of the 

 highways will not admit of this, re- 

 model them so that the mower can 

 be used on every part of them. — 

 Thos. SJiai.'. in Ohio Farmer. 



Smoked Onions. — Large quanti- 

 ties of so-called smoked onions are 

 brought annually from the Russian 

 markets into Germany, which keep 

 extra-long, as they do not sprout. In 

 reality these onions are not smoked, 

 but simply aired. Dr. von Rigel 

 writes: "The onions are first dried in 

 bunches in the open air, and tied to 

 a string suspended from a covered 

 roof, which protects them from rain. 

 They are then placed on top of the 

 big Russian stove, built entirely of 

 brick, in a temperature of i22°-i67° 

 Fahr., so that they are slowly but 

 thoroughly cured." — Florists' Ex- 

 change. 



Onion Varieties in England. — 



The most reliable sorts for spring- 

 sowing are Reading Improved and 



Rousham Park ; for long-keeping qualities, James' Keep- 

 ing, Danvers Yellow, and Brown Spanish or Deptford 



(here figured) ; for sowing toward the end of July and 

 again in August, the Queen, Early White Naples and 

 Giant Rocca, a splendid, large, hardy variety of fine 

 globular shape, and a good keeper. Silver Skin is a 

 small white onion, and is cultivated for pickling. The 

 Potato onion forms a number of bulbs on the parent root 

 under ground, and by means of these it is propagated, 

 ensuring a good supply even during a very hot and dry 

 season. — Gardening- Illustrated. 



My Little Hoe. — "What a fine crop of carrots you 

 have," said a visitor, "and so clean and even !" "Yes," 

 I said, "they are good. I thinned them out with my 

 little hoe." This hoe is one of the most useful imple- 

 ments on the farm. In fact, I have three of them — one 

 an inch wide, another two inches and another three 

 inches. I dislike to use or see a man use a dull, rusty 

 hoe. We grind these hoes every day and take a good file 

 into the field and keep the hoes always sharp. In time 

 the corners of the hoe wear off and become rounded, and 

 the hoe will no longer do effective work. Put one of 

 these hoes in a vise and break off the sides of the blade 

 slantwise, so that the lower part of the hoe shall be 

 wider than the top, leaving in the center only so much as 

 you wish — one, two or three inches. Grind it up smooth 

 and bright and you have what some people may call a 

 " plaything," but which in the hand of a man who knows 

 how to use it and who does not want to do hard work 

 will give you many hours and days of pleasure and profit 

 in the garden. — Harris' Rural Annual. 



Mushroom- Poison Tests. — The danger from mush- 

 room poisoning has been greatly exaggerated. In observ- 

 ing certain rules of precaution, all possibilities of this 



Brown Sp.^ms.h O.mon. 



nature are averted. The mushroom must never be used 

 unless perfectly fresh ; if maggot-eaten, wilted, or in any 



