72 



THE AMERICAN GARDEN. 



[April, 



BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS RECEIVED, 

 Education of Farmers' Children.— A riaper 

 read before the Durham ville Grange, Lauderdale 

 County, Tenn., by Dr. Isaac L. Case. 



The American Farmer.— An address deliv- 

 ered by Mr. A. W. Campbell, of Wheeling, West 

 Virginia, before the Tri-County Agricultural In- 

 stitute, held at St. Clairsville, Ohio. 



Safety on Land and Sea.— Time without a 

 watch or chronometer. Planisphere of the Stars, 

 improved by Dr. William F. Thorns. Published 

 by the author, at the Nautical School, 92 Madison 

 street, New-York. 



Corn and Potato Manual — J. C. Yaughan, 

 Chicago, III— A neat pamphlet, containing a 

 large amount of useful and interesting informa- 

 tion in regard to the history, culture, manage- 

 ment, and statistics of these important crops. 



Silk Culture A Monthly Magazine of Home 



Industries for Women ; published by W. B. Smith 

 & Co., New-York, at $1 a year. The initial num- 

 ber of this neat and well gotten-up publication is 

 before us. It is full of interesting information 

 of value to all interested in silk culture, and 

 promises well for its deserved success. 



Flax Culture, for the Seed and the Fibre, in 

 the United States, with special reference to the 

 States west of Pennsylvania, by Mr. H. Eoelken- 

 bccl;. Published by Hiram Sibley & Co., Roch- 

 ester, N. Y. The pamphlet gives full particulars 

 on cultivation, seed, and saving the crop, as well 

 as the author's views bow this valuable crop 

 may be saved and the flax industry built up in 

 America. 



Grain and Farm Seeds Manual. Published 

 by Hiram Sibley (G Co., Rochester, N. Y.— An illus- 

 trated pamphlet of eighty-eight pages, giving de- 

 scriptions of all the standard and many new 

 varieties of cereals, root-crops, fodder-plants, etc., 

 grown under field culture North and South. It 

 contains, also, valuable essays on the history of 

 Corn and the Potato, by Dr. E. L. Sturtevant; 

 on Grasses, by Professor W. J. Beal ; on Wheat 

 and Corn culture, by B. F. Johnson. 



New and Rare Fruits in 1882. -Mr. W. C. 

 Barry's, Secretary of the Native Fruit Committee, 

 report to the Western New-York Horticultural 

 Society : The year 1882 has been full of interest to 

 fruit-growers and horticultural experimenters, 

 in consequence of the large number of new fruits 

 which have been on trial. All the novelties 

 brought before the public during the year are 

 here carefully and impartially reviewed, and al- 

 though another or se veral years' experience will 

 be necessary to determine the definite value of 

 many of them, this report serves as a most re- 

 liable guide to all who desire to make a selection 

 of the most promising or most valuable new 

 fruits. 



How to Feed the Raby, to make it healthy 

 and happy. With Health Hints. By C. E. Page, 

 M. D. Third edition, revised and enlarged. 160 

 pages. Paper, 50 cents ; extra cloth, 75 cents. 

 New-York: Fowler d- Wells, publishers, 753 Broad- 

 way. The author, who has made the study of 

 infant dietetics a specialty for many years, gives 

 here the results of his own and others' experience 

 as to the most rational and healthful mode of 

 nursing, feeding, and bringing' up children. The 

 leading positions are. sound and based upon 

 the unbending laws of life and death. Although, 

 of course, modifications will lie required in in- 

 dividual cases, no intelligent mother can read 

 the pages of this work without benefit to her child 

 and to her own comfort and happiness. It is safe 

 to say that, in proportion as the book is circu- 

 lated and its teachings are followed, will the rate 

 of iufant mortality decrease. 



CATALOGUES RECEIVED, 

 J. H. Walker, Worcester, Mass.— Catalogue of 

 Jersey Cattle, comprising the Crystal Spring 

 Herd. 



Jesse Rattey, Manchester, N. J.— Descriptive 

 ( i i v ill : i r of the Manchester Strawberry, originated 

 by Mr. Battey. 



Jenkins's Nurseries, Winona, Ohio.— Spring 

 Price-list of general Nursery Stock. Evergreen 



Seedlings and young transplanted Evergreens 

 are the leading specialty, in addition to several 

 novelties and superior sorts of small fruits. 



Woods, Reach & Co., New Brighton, Pa.— 

 Illustrated and descriptive catalogue of Roses, 

 with valuable directions for their culture. Also 

 a general assortment of florists' and bedding 

 plants. 



E. D. Sturtevant, Bordentown, N. /.—Catalogue 

 of rare Water-Lilies and other choice Aquatic 

 Plants. This is a most interesting pamphlet to 

 any one contemplating the cultivation of these 

 interesting plants, giving, in addition to careful 

 descriptions of the best kinds, valuable hints about 

 their culture. 



F. R. Pierson, Tarry town, N. Y.— Catalogue of 

 Plants and Garden Supplies.. A large collection of 

 greenhouse, bedding, and small fruit plants. The 

 new Coleus Golden Bedder is a specialty of this 

 establishment, as well as the " Bermuda Easter 

 Lily," in the introduction of which Mr. Pierson 

 has taken much interest. 



P. J. Rerckmans, Augusta, Oct.— Descriptive 

 Catalogue of Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, 

 Roses, Evergreens, Hardy Flowering Plants, etc., 

 etc. This catalogue contains, in addition to the 

 completest list of varieties suitable for the South 

 found anywhere, valuable directions for planting 

 and cultivation, which, coming from one of the 

 most experienced horticulturists in our land, may 

 be followed with confidence. 



Woolson & Co., Passaic, N. J. — Catalogue of 

 Hardy Perennial Plants, Bulbs, Ferns and Climb- 

 ers. This establishment makes a specialty of 

 hardy plants, correctly named, and cultivates a 

 larger and better collection than is to be found 

 anywhere else in America. The sliver medal of 

 the Massachusetts Horticulture Society has just 

 been awarded to the firm for their magnificent 

 exhibit of new Hybrid Narcissus. 



Sedgwick Rros., Rich mond, Indiana.— Descrip- 

 tive Illustrated Catalogue of their celebrated 

 Wire Fences, Gates, &c. These fences and wire 

 net-works, which combine neatness of appear 

 ance with great strength and durability, are now, 

 by the use of special machinery, produced so 

 cheaply as to offer great advantages, not only as 

 farm and garden fences, but also for arbors, 

 trellises, flower beds, and various ornamental 

 purposes 



V. H. Hallock, Son, & Thorpe, Queens, N. Y. 

 — Dlustrated Catalogue of Plants, Bulbs, Small 

 Fruits, etc. Lilies and Gladiolus have long been 

 made specialties of this firm, and the completeness 

 and variety of their collections are not excelled by 

 any other establishment in this country. Carna- 

 tions, Geraniums, and other flowers and plants 

 are also amongthe specialties, and, with the addi- 

 tion of small fruits, made lately, their assortment 

 is one of the completest found anywhere. 



E. P. Roe, Corutcall-on-the-Hiidson, N. Y. — 

 Catalogue of Small Fruits and Grape-Vines. One 

 of the choicest collections of small fruits in the 

 country. Mr. Roe takes special care to keep up 

 the purity of his stock, and his sample beds have 

 a world-wide reputation. The pamphlet contains 

 in addition to descriptions and illustrations of 

 the leading varieties, valuable directions for 

 their culture. 



ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS, 

 Removing Old Paint — A. P.-To the inquiry 

 of "How to remove old paint from stone," Mr. 

 B. Hammond, of the Mount Kisco, N. Y., Paint 

 Works, replies . " Old paint can be removed from 

 stones, but the expense and labor would probably 

 be so great as to preclude the attempt. It would 

 have to be burned off, as old paint is taken off 

 railroad coaches and carriages, then rubbed and 

 cleaned with spirits or hot lye, to thoroughly 

 cleanse the stone." 



White Grubs W. D.,Norristown, Pa.— There is 



no prevention against this pest, except to kill all 

 the May beetles, which is easier .paid than done. 

 Ground that has been in grass, or any perma- 

 nent crop, as Strawberries, for several ^years, is 

 always more infested with grubs than cultivated 

 land. After plowing and tilling for two or three 

 years, few grubs will be found. The January 



number of The American Garden has an ex- 

 haustive article on this subject. 



Libonia (loribunda. — Mrs. P., London, Ont. — 

 This interesting winter-flowering plant requires 

 treatment similar to the Calla. It should be 

 planted in rich loam, and when growing, exposed 

 to full light, It requires plenty of water, with 

 an occasional application of liquid manure. If 

 allowed to suffer for water, it drops its leaves and 

 refuses to bloom. After its season of growth, 

 water should not be given so freely for three to 

 four weeks. 



Grafting Cactus — I. P., For Lake, Wis. — Most, 

 and perhaps all, species of Cactus can be grafted 

 upon each other. The process is very simple, 

 and consists simply in inserting and fastening 

 a small branch cf the kind to be grafted into a 

 split made into the stock, as in wedge- grafting 

 of trees. Weak and low-growing species are 

 generally grafted upon more vigorous ones, yet 

 large, round Echinocactus may be grafted upon 

 slender Cereus, if supported by a frame. 



Diseased Ivy — L. P. D., Great Bend, Pa.— 

 Your plant is affected with Scale, the most insidi- 

 ous enemy of Ivy grown in the house. There is 

 no better remedy than frequent washing with 

 ; soap-water. All the leaves should be well rub- 

 bed or brushed with the suds, and afterward 

 J washed off again with clean water. These wash- 

 ings must be repeated every few days until every 

 one of the small, brownish, blister-like excres- 

 cences—the houses of the parasites— are re- 

 moved. As long as a single one is left the plants 

 will soon become overrun again. 



About Yuccas.— J. C, Brooklyn, N. Y. — The 

 following letter is so instructive, and illustrates 

 so well the cause of innumerable failures in the 

 propagation of plants, that we print it in full: 



" Last January, on coming back from Florida, 

 I brought with me a cutting of a species of 

 Yucca, known in the South as ' Spanish bayonet.' 

 The plant, I was told, is a very robust one ; and 

 so it proved, for it was thrown in a corner of 

 the yard for three weeks in Jacksonville, simply 

 covered with the indigenous white sand, then 

 rather carelessly packed in a box, with a little 

 damp moss. Tt remained all the time quite green 

 and healthy. On reaching Brooklyn I placed the 

 cutting in a box, with rather rich soil from the 

 garden, and kept it in the window; but now my 

 trouble began. The leaves shortly turned yellow, 

 and my Yucca looked very sick. Then I happened 

 to look over the January number of The Ameri- 

 can Garden, and noticed, on page 7, an article 

 on the Yuccas and their cultivation. This was a 

 ray of light I immediately unpotted my plant, 

 and found the lower end decaying. I at once cut 

 off everything unsound, sent to the nearest 

 grocer for white sand, which, after washing, I 

 mixed with about one-sixth of garden soil, and 

 in this replanted my Yucca. This was six weeks 

 ago. Since then my plant has been thriving and 

 growing beautifully. Can you tell me in your 

 next number what care it should have next 

 spring ? " 



All plants are best propagated in sand; rich 

 soil can only injure slips and cuttings, as they 

 cannot absorb the nourishment; it is like giving 

 rich food to a dyspeptic. After roots have been 

 formed and growth begins, richer soil and more 

 water may be given in proportion to the activity 

 of the plant,— just as we vary the rations of 

 working animals according to the amount of 

 work they are required to do. 



The plant, which is probably Yucca gloriosa, 

 should be placed outdoors in summer, with the 

 pot, and should not be transplanted until the 

 pot becomes entirely filled with roots. As long 

 as it grows vigorously it should be watered freely. 

 In winter it may be kept in the cellar or a 

 cool room, free from frost, withholding water 

 altogether, or at least giving not more than to 

 keep it from shriveling. Under no consideration 

 should it be kept continually growing. Plants 

 need rest as much as we do. 



The United States Mutual Accident Associa- 

 tion is now occupying its new quarters at 320 and 

 322 Broadway, New- York. The growth and in- 

 crease of business of this well-known and reliable 

 institution made the removal a necessity. The 

 new offices are amongthe largest and handsomest 

 on Broadway, and are well worth a visit. 



