February, 1891. 
35 
/ orchrrdI RND % GARDEN \ 
Candida is quite different in foliage, per- 
fectly hard} , and a rapid grower. Desboisii 
is a deep red and the most showy of all, but 
it is almost too large a blush. 
* * 
* 
The Lindens are noble shade trees, too 
much neglected by planters. We think the 
White or Silver Linden the best of them, 
and fully equal to any other ornamental 
tree. Stately in form, erect and hardy, the 
leaves white underneath and, when blo^n 
by the wind, extremely picturesque ; we do 
not know that it has a fault. The Weep- 
ing White Linden is yet a rare tree, and the 
ends of the limbs drooping gracefully down- 
wards make it an object of surpassing 
loveliness, while its symmetrical form makes 
up the ideal of a tree of beauty indeed. Our 
Basswood, with care in seleciion and when 
kept in good shape by pruning, is a noble 
tree, too, and planted with maples it gives a 
diversity that is pleasing and harmonious. 
European Lindens have long been planted 
in this vicinity, and a variety called Red- 
twigged resists the fungus that attacks the 
leaves of the Broad-leaved or Platyphylla, 
and causes thrrn to fall in the latter part of 
summer, while the first named variety holds 
its leaves until killed by frost. Planters 
should, in this part of the country, be par- 
ticular in their choice of kinds, and avoid the 
Platyphylla variety, not affected by disease 
of any kind. Spectabilis is rare but valuable. 
* * 
* 
For manv years we have grown and 
tested the various kinds of poplars for sale 
in the nurseries, and have about concluded 
that there are few kinds worth planting. 
Among those that are desirable we like the 
Carolina Poplar ; it is or appears to be 
identical with the Black Italian. It does 
not sucker, is a rapid grower, and has a fair 
supply of leaves, but is not as strong a 
grower as the Balm of Gilead, which has an 
abundance of leaves, makes a good shade, 
and is almost free from suckering.. We 
regard the Abele or Silver-leaf Poplar as 
unworthy of cultivation. — Isaac Hicks, 
Queen’s Co., N. Y. 
Hintsforthe Month. 
Though cold weather is by no means over, 
the wise housekeeper begins, in February, 
to plan for the spring work and the changes 
in furnishing and arrangements which will 
usually be necessary. 
If there are new bedsteads to be bought, 
it is wise to remember that brass and iron 
afford no shelter to insect pests. We nat- 
urally think that bed-bugs live only in the 
homes of filth and carelessness. This is 
surely where they belong; but, unfortu- 
nately, they are travelers: and experience 
shows that some of the neatest and most 
careful housekeepers have had to fight these 
offensive but persistent enemies. 
Those fortunate people who own their 
homes and live in them all their lives, some- 
times admit the enemy with the raw Irish 
girl, fresh from Castle Garden, or with the 
good-natured colored girl who came North 
on a not over-neat steamer; while the un- 
fortunates who spends their lives in rented 
houses and have frequently felt the discom- 
forts of moving day are liable to find the 
vermin comfortably settled in the walls of 
sleeping rooms whence it is almost impossi- 
ble to annihilate them. The wood of a 
bedstead affords them a hundred nests, and 
they hasten to take possession. Although 
there are many poisons which are said to 
kill them without fail, the extermination 
is at best a difficult and disagreeable process. 
There is hardly anything more annoying 
or disgusting to a housekeeper than trouble 
of this kind ; and one who has had experi- 
ence advises housekeepers to use only metal 
bedsteads. All cannot afford the costly 
brass which is kept bright with much care; 
but those of painted iron are very pretty, 
the wdiite ones being exceedingly dainty. 
If new sheets are necessary, be sure to have 
them long enough to turn over well at the 
top and to tuck in at the foot till there is 
no possibility or being kicked out. If one 
must scrimp any w here, let it be in width 
rather than in length ; though even there 
it will cause discomfort. 
February is usually a good month to buy 
sheets, pillow- cases, and many other things, 
as remnants are sold cheap to make room 
for summer goods. 
The Secrets of Tea Making. 
“The cup that cheers” is such a common- 
place subject to dwell upon that it may 
be thought quite unnecessary to write about 
it. But, to judge bythe quantityof very weak 
tea which is daily put before us, we venture 
to say that the art of making tea is not 
studied as it ought to be. Firstly, the water 
must boil — really boil. It is no use bringing 
up hot water. Servants will tell you the wa- 
ter boiled because “the kettle was singing.” 
When water boils the kettle’s voice is hushed , 
and the quiet repose of the boiling water is 
evidenced by the escaping steam. Second- 
ly, the correct quantity of tea to be put into 
the pot is about the old regulation allow- 
ance, “a spoonful for each, and one for the 
pot.” We prefer, however, a somewhat 
more liberal allowance ourselves. The tea 
should never be put into a cold tea-pot. Let 
the tea-pot be well warmed first, either by 
pouring hot water into it or otherwise. 
Then put in the tea and about three parts 
of a pint of water. Let it stand some min- 
utes, then fill up with more water accord- 
ing to the number of tea-drinkers. Some 
people add a lump of sugar — others some 
soda, which is very acceptable if the water 
be hard; but soda should be used sparingly. 
The tea should be stirred around in the pot 
before adding the second allowance of wat- 
er. A “tea-cosy” is now often used, after 
the English faahion, for covering the fam- 
ily tea-pot, and keeps it warm. 
In Case of Accident. 
What a blessing is the calm, self-possessed 
person, whose presence of mind tells her 
exactly what ought to be done, in any 
emergency, and whose courage inspires 
those around her to do what they would 
otherwise have found impossible. There 
are few people, in middle life, who have 
not had some experience in accidents; and 
they will all agree that, at such times, there 
vi ere certain ones to whom they turned 
instinctively for help ; while there were 
others — dear friends, perhaps — to whom 
they never thought of applying. 
How shall we account for this ? Partly 
because of a difference in individuals, but 
more largely because of a difference in 
training. Presence of mind, self-control, 
and steady nerves may be acquired where 
they are not natural. A most successful 
woman physician fainted away the first 
time she watched a surgical operation ; and 
there are numerous instances of delicate 
and sensitive girls who, by training, develop 
nerve and self-control which make them 
the reliance of the whole neighborhood. 
We fear the mothers who make a practice 
of teaching their boys and girls what to do 
in case of the various accidents, so liable to 
occur, are in a small minority ; yet no 
mother should neglect this part of her 
children’s training. 
Every child should be told exactly how 
to act in case his clothing should take fire, 
and not only told, but he should be made 
to go through with it all so often that, if 
the danger really come, he will save him- 
self unconsciously. By turns, each child 
should be treated as if r escued from drown- 
ing, the other children going through all 
the operations necessary to restore con- 
sciousness. 
Children are naturally interested in these 
things, and will quickly gain knowledge 
which may save their own or other lives. 
Breakfasts. 
In some respects, breakfast is the most 
important meal of the day ; as it frequently 
must sustain the system through a long 
