1867.] 
AMERICAN AG-RICri/TURIST. 
43 
Work ia the Horticultural Departments. 
The " note of preparation " should be sounding 
in every department. Occasional mild days will 
allow of some out of door work, and the tool-house 
and repairs in the work shop will give abundant 
indoor employment. Have everything ready, not 
only the tools and appliances, but have allplans made 
for the opening season. This month, catalogues of 
the dealers are ready, and if trees or other nursery 
stuff or seeds, etc., are to be purchased, our adver- 
tising columns will show where the articles are to 
be had. Order early, as the stock of some things 
is often exhausted later in the season. In sending 
an order to nurserymen or seedsmen write plainly, 
and put only one article upon a line. Mistakes arc 
usually as much the fault of the purchaser as of the 
seller, who is often puzzled to find out what is 
wanted. If any correspondence is necessary, have 
»• separate from the order. Give clear directions 
how the articles are to be sent, and do "not omit to 
given the address in full. A dealer of our acquain- 
tance recently received an order inclosing money, 
but no name was signed ; a few days after he re- 
ceived a letter from the same writer, which in- 
formed him that an order had been sent a few days 
before, but that the name had been forgotten, and 
this letter of explanation also had no name to it. 
© ro 1 sard and Nursery. 
The principal items of out door work were indi- 
cated last month. As the severity of the weather 
moderates, the knife may be used in shaping 
Young Trees. — Cut them back to secure a 6tocky 
growth, and a well balanced form. Do not cut so 
close to a bud as to endanger it, nor so far above as 
to leave a stub. The treatment of young trees that 
have been badly formed is noticed on page 62. 
Though February is not the best possible month for 
Pruning, there are many who are obliged to do it 
now ; select a time when the wood is not frozen, 
and observe the precautions mentioned on page 63. 
Old trees and neglected young ones may have a 
a wash of soft soap, mixed with water enough to 
apply with a brush. If there is much loose bark, or 
a great accumulation of moss, a blunt scraper maybe 
used. Some are made for this use. Every cluster of 
Caterpillar's Eggs removed now is clear gain ; 
the Tent-caterpillar's were described in January. 
Cioiis are to be cut on mild days, and kept in saw- 
dust or moss until wanted. Earth or sand will keep 
them as well, but they are less pleasant to use than 
when preserved in moss or saw-dust. Cions are 
readily sent by mail ; tie them in a buudle, wrap in 
oiled silk, and over all put a stout brown paper, and 
tie securely. Mark "cuttings only," aud put no 
writing in the package. Postage is 2 cents for 4 oz. 
Grafting should be deferred until the buds of the 
stock begin to swell — which they will do this month 
in some parts of the South. Root grafting ought to 
be finished up, and the grafted roots ready to set out. 
Nursery trees will be received by some of our 
southern readers, and if long on the way may have 
suffered from drying, or they may be frozen. Com- 
pletely bury all dried or shrivelled trees, and if not 
too far gone they will become plump in a few days. 
Any packages, the contents of which are likely to 
be frozen when they are received, should be allowed 
to thaw gradually in a cool placo before openiug. 
Manure may be spread in tbc orchard wherever 
the ground is not frozen. 
JFrtiit harden. 
Continue to exercise oversight, and 6eo that no 
injury comes to trees a»d plants by animals. If 
Grape Vines were nojt pruned in autumn, take 
advantage of the first thaw, and do it this month. 
The wood from winter pruning is not so good for 
cuttings as that removed in tall, and if used for 
this purpose must be carefully selected. 
Currants may also bo pruned, and the cuttings 
ouried until I lie weather allows of their being 6ct. 
Dwarf trees treat as noticed above, under Orchard. 
Kitchen Garden. 
As there is but little to be done here, in northern 
localities, our notes for January are equally good 
now. Make every preparation for spring work. 
Manure, whether for garden use or for hot-beds, 
should be accumulated. When the heap becomes 
hot it should be turned to avoid injury. 
Sot-beds are to be made at the South, and at the 
North, if very early plants are wanted. For the 
simplest form of hot-bed see page 63. Prepare 
Straw-covers, as described on page 63, or straw 
mats ; the last are made by stretching a warp of five 
tarred strings, the width of the sash and a foot 
longer, then laying on handfuls of straw, each of 
which is to be bouud to the warp by a small string. 
Gold Frames need more close attention as the 
weather gets milder. Open them whenever the 
weather is not severe, and harden off the cabbage 
and other plants to fit them for early transplanting. 
Boot crops still in the ground, such as horse- 
radish, parsnips and salsify are to be dug and mar- 
keted whenever the ground is sufficiently thawed. 
Onions, if frozen, should be kept so by a covering 
of hay to prevent alternate freezing and thawing. 
Poles and brush that may be needed for beans, 
peas and other climbers, are best cut before vege- 
tation starts, and while the swamps are frozen. 
Rhubarb is easily forced where there is plenty of 
manure. Cover the roots with boxes or barrels, 
and surround -them well with heating material. 
The leaves soon start, and when grown in the dark 
in this way are exceedingly tender. Do not forget 
that all labor is lost unless you have good 
Seeds. — If there is any doubt about the quality of 
seeds, be at any trouble or expense to procure those 
of a reliable character. Buy of responsible parties 
only. The postal arrangements, for all except 
points reached by the over-laud mail, are such that 
it makes but little difference where one lives, as 
the mail puts him in reach of all the seed stores in 
the country. See "Basket" item on page 50. 
Flower Garden and Lawn. 
The mild days will allow pruning to be done. 
Ornamental trees, as a general thing, should be 
left to assume their natural form, but it sometimes « 
becomes necessary to remove branches that are in 
the way, and others that have become injured by 
winds or snow. All pruning of them 6hould be 
done with as much care as with fruit trees — for 
which see article on page 62. 
Shrubs, too, will need the knife and the shears. 
They ought not to be out into formal shapes, but 
left still in their natural form. Those that bloom 
upon the new growth may be shortened at pleasure, 
while those that have their flower buds ready formed 
only need to have crowded branches thinned out. 
Repairs of fences and of trellises, arbors, and all 
garden fixtures may be made and painting done. 
Pits and cellars where plants are stored will need 
looking to. Give air on mild days ; if the plants be- 
come very dry and likely to suffer, water moderately. 
Dahlias, Cannas, and other roots, stored in the 
cellar for winter must not be allowed to be damp 
enough to mould or rot. If this occurs, separate 
the affected ones and remove to a dryer placo. 
Green and Hot-Houses. 
The variable weather this month will demand 
care with tho tires to secure that uniformity of tem- 
perature so necessary to success. 
Insects are easily kept in cheek if taken in time. 
Burn tobacco occasionally at night at closing the 
house to keep the green fly in check. 
Camellias and other shrubs that have done flower- 
ing may be trimmed into shape. The camellia, 
especially, i» often neglected in this respect. 
Bulbs are to be brought into the green houso to sup- 
ply the place of those that have gone out of flower. 
Pi-opagation of all ltiuds of bedding stuff may be 
commenced, and seeds or annual- may be -"'vn 
Poses coming into flower may have very weak 
liquid manure, not more highly colored than tea. 
The Apiary for February. 
Bee culture requires, in its most successful man- 
agement, the right thing to be done promptly at 
the right time, hence, all necessary appliances 
should be in readiness before wanted. Bees do not 
wait our convenience, and so we must closely 
observe their habits and accommodate ourselves to 
them. A knowledge of them can be gained from 
the standard works on Bee Culture, but practice, 
in connection with the theoretical knowledge, is 
essential to success. It is easily gained, and 60, 
young bee keepers need not be discouraged by a 
lack of success for a year or two. Bee keepers in 
most of the United States aud Canada encounter 
two draw backs — namely, cold winters, and an in- 
terrupted and irregular succession of flowers. 
These may be obviated, to a considerable extent, 
by protection in winter, and by cultivating houey 
producing flowers, adapted to bee pasturage. 
Success depends to a great degree in being able 
to know what is going on within the hive — for this 
moveable frame hives are necessary. Then it is 
proved that Italian Bees are superior to the common 
or black ones, not only because they are more in- 
dustrious, better workers and breeders, but espe- 
cially because more easily handled (if pure), hence, 
it is best to have them if they can be obtaiued. 
MEMORANDA, FURNISHED BY M. QUINBT. 
Only the light newly fallen snow is dangerous to 
bees; if a warm, bright day should come the day 
after snow has fallen, shade the hive to discourage 
the bees leaving. Should bees that are housed 
become uneasy, and some of them, leaving the hive, 
discharge filth on its sides, it is well to put them 
out 6ome good warm day, and return at night. If 
bees are to be chanced to any new stand or bee- 
house, let it be done this mouth, or next, at least, 
before they fly out to mark the locality. It is worse 
to move a short distance than a great one. Separate 
stands and roofs are approved by many, and if 
adopted, should be crowded with hives, to secure, 
all possible advantages. This involves the necessity 
of making artificial swarms, and rearing and in- 
troducing laying queens to all the hives as they 
need them ; this is not a difficult operation. 
■See that no full colony is without one longer 
than two to 6even days. Those intending to do 
this, should prepare now a few miniature moveable 
comb hives, with a few of the combs filled with 
dry combs. Directions for raising and introducing 
queens will be given at the proper season. This 
month is a good time for purchasing more stocks, 
if wanted, as they may be moved safely by sleigh. 
Wheu purchased stocks have been housed dur- 
iug the winter, they should have at least one fair 
day on which to fly, before starting on a journey. 
The Indiana BBortioiiItnral Soci- 
ety.— The annual meeting of this Society was held at 
Indianapolis on January 8th. We extract the following 
from the letter of a correspondent who was present : The 
veteran President, J. D. G. Nelson, of Fort Wayne, open- 
ed the meeting with some interesting aud encouraging 
statements as to the Btatus of Horticulture in the Slate. 
Sundry papers and reports were presented by the officers 
of the society and from e.ounly sock-tics. The following 
members were elected to office: President, J. D, G. Nel- 
son, Fort Wayne. Vice-Presidents, A. Furnas, Danville ; 
Calvin Fletcher, Indianapolis ; J. C. Shoemaker, Rome; 
E. C. Siler, Parke Counly. Secretary, S. W. Pearson. 
Plainfleld. Corresponding Secretary, Jos. Gilbert, Terra 
Haute. Treasurer, J. S. bunlop, Indianapolis.— Commit 
tees were appointed to examine and award premiums 
upon the specimens on the table. The show of Bruits > si 
very extensive and fine. Q.uite an array of native wind 
was also on exhibition. Several papers of interest were 
read daring the course of the sessions— but the great 
work of the meeting has been the revision of the Fruit 
Catalogues, the result of which can only be seen in the 
official report, soon to be printed. In tile course of the 
discussions, insects came in for a share el' consideration, 
and many tesl inert to the advantage they hart gained from 
rending the Practical Entomologist. One evening was de- 
voted to the memory of the late Secretary, Geo. M. Beeler, 
and to the presenting an eulogy of him to n large and at- 
[©ntlvi :""'i'" ■ of h!« fellow-citizens and admirers. 
