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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 



tered in the cellar, and Pyre/hntiu aureuni, made a fine 

 display. 



In the above manner I had over 3,000 plants, all of 

 which cost me only the 30 cents which I spent for seed. 



I would not advise anyone to undertake this unless 

 they are willing to do lots of work in March and April, 

 but if anyone wishes to try, my plan may be of some 

 help to them. — Geo. H. Henderson, Dover, iV. H. 



MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 



Window Garden Literature. — Succeeding issues of 

 The American Garden will contain an unusual number 

 of bright and helpful articles upon house gardens. 

 These are prepared by the best writers and should be 

 read by everyone who wishes to brighten the home with 

 plants and fiowers. 



Ferneries. — As the happy father said after his first 

 baby was born, " How did we ever live without her ? " 

 so the plant lover will say of her fern case, "We can't 

 do without it." If money is not plenty, make it your- 

 self. Mine is composed of three half windows put 

 together with glass, the top being hinged, and the whole 

 put over a zinc tray. Broken crocks are in the bottom, 

 then a layer of charcoal, and lastly the soil, composed 

 of decayed leaves, meadow earth and sand. The walks 

 in the fields with basket and trowel are no small part of 

 the pleasure of getting your case ready. You will have 

 to buy a fern or two of the florist, and make out with 

 what you have. Begonias do very well. Partridge vine, 

 lycopodium and moss will grow all around the tall 

 plants, and make a lovely carpet. Get your case in 

 order, and you won't have to raise the lid for weeks. 

 Put your fernery before a window, and long winter 

 days, especially if you have to stay in the house a great 

 deal, try looking through the glass case, with its lovely 

 growing things, to the snowy landscape beyond. — Sister 

 Gracious. 



How to Have Fine Window Boxes and Hanging 

 Baskets. — Common planed inch lumber may be used 

 for the boxes, which should be six inches deep, and 

 about the same in width, with a length corresponding to 

 the width of the window sill. The box will last longer 

 if the inside is charred. To do this, cover the parts to 

 be burned with paraffine oil and then burn it off. 

 Paint the outside a pleasing color and place the box on 

 the window sill and fasten with wire or screw eyes, or 

 rest it on brackets if the sill be too narrow. The best 

 soil for this box is composed of one part fine well- 

 rotted manure, two parts common soil and a little sand. 

 The followmg plants of upright habit may be used for 

 the center : Begonias, double and single fuchsias and 

 petunias; a variety of geraniums, flowering and 

 scented, also the silver and scented-leaved ; coleus of 

 all sorts, dracaenas and caladiums. The trailing plants 

 for the edges and ends may be selected from the follow- 

 ing list : Musk plant, lobelias, moneyvine, German ivy, 

 thunbergia, maurandia, tropseolum, Stevia serraia varie- 

 gated, cypress vine, lemon-scented verbena, green or 

 variegated vinca, ivy geraniums and variegated thyme 



After the roots have used the plant food in the soil in 

 the boxes, water them with liquid manure (rather weak). 



or it may perhaps be more convenient to use some 

 plant fertilizer in the dry state for prolonging their 

 beauty. Be particular about supplying sufficient fresh 

 water, as window boxes soon dry out ; a thorough soak- 

 ing every evening during the dry season will, perhaps, 

 not be too much : however, judgment must be used. 

 Dead leaves and withered flowers should be removed 

 and perhaps a little trimming done if the plants crowd, 

 otherwise, allow them to grow naturally. 



For hanging baskets the same general directions will 

 apply, especially in the line of watering, for they dry out 

 even more quickly. — E. E. Summey, Niagara Co., N. Y. 



Conservatory Pests. — I should much like advice as 

 to the best method of exterminating the green aphis in 

 my conservatory. This conservatory is attached to my 

 dwelling and the use of tobacco smoke is therefore very 

 offensive throughout the entire house. My gardener has 

 tried steeped tobacco stems and dust, also fir tree oil, 

 but with only indifferent success. Is there anything 

 better ?— P. B. J. 



Everyone wants to know what to do with the numer- 

 ous conservatory pests. Aphis or green-fly is one of the 

 easiest to manage. Mealy-bug is almost unmanageable 

 in small conservatories unless it is sponged off, and this 

 operation is tedious and uncertain, because the insect 

 delights in hiding itself in the axils of leaves and other 

 inaccessible places. In establishments of some extent, 

 where the hose can be used freely, it can be dislodged 

 and kept in check ; and this method will check the ad. 

 vance of the white-fly or aleurodes, and the spotted or 

 black mite, while for red spider thorough wetting is 

 itself a specific But in the window garden the hose 

 cannot be used freely even if hose facilities should ex- 

 ist ; and this forceful watering is also liable to injure 

 some flowers. 



Happily, we now have a specific for all these pests, 

 which is not offensive, not poisonous and is easily ap- 

 plied. It is an alcoholic decoction of pyrethrum, made 

 as follows : one part by weight of fresh pyrethrum is 

 placed in four parts of alcohol. Let stand for about 

 eight days, shaking occasionally. Then filter, and ap- 

 ply with an atomizer. This is " sure pop " 10 the mealy 

 bug. The mealy coat of the insect repels substances 

 applied dry or in water, but the alcohol " strikes in" 

 and carries the pyrethrum essence with it. Aphis suc- 

 cumbs at once, and even the spotted mite, the most per- 

 nicious of all greenhouse pests, cannot resist it. An 

 ordinary perfume atomizer with a long delivery nozzle, 

 purchased at the drug store, applies it nicely. We have 

 one filled with the decoction always standing on our 

 table, and as soon as any bug presents himself we dis- 



