LOW'S RETAIL CATALOG U E. 
Desirable Books for Farmers. 
I make it a point to have constantly on hand copies cf the following books treating upon Agricultural and Horti- 
cultural Topics, which will be found to meet the wants of all these interested or engaged in cither of these pursuits, 
and also will be found of great value for reference upon topics of this nature. The matter they contain is gathered 
from authentic sources, and being written in a practical manner they are invaluable works which all should possess. 
Sent by mail, postpaid, upon receipt of price. 
Rawson’s Success in Market Gardening (see Page 0) $1.00 
Henderson’s Garden and Farm Topics 1.50 
Henderson’s Gardening for Profit — New Edition (see Pago 0) . . . . 2.00 
Henderson’s How the Farm Pays, New, 2.50 
Potato Pests — Their Habits and Remedies for their Destruction . . . .75 
Grape Culturist. by Fuller 1.50 
Gregory on Onion Raising .30 
Gregory on Fertilizer .30 
Cauliflowers, and How to Grow Them, Brill , (see Page 9) .25 
Reasons Wherein Good Seed May Fail to Give Satisfaction. 
Every one who has a garden has more cr less trouble in getting the seed that lie plants to come up as he desires 
and his first idea generally is that the seed must have been poor. If he would but stop and think a moment, in many 
cases lie would come to a very different conclusion. 
In the fist place, many plant both tender and hardy seed at the same time, and, if caily in the season, those 
which are tender will fail to ccme up, as the coldness of the roil will destroy them. Another reasm is, in sewing 
even seed that is hardy, we arc apt to cover tco deep, especially in the ‘pring, when the soil is wet and cold. All that 
is needed is the seed being deep enough to ensure moisture until germination takes place and the young rccts strike 
into the soil. 
Again, the seed may have been perfectly geed, and wc may leave done cur part all right, but if, as frequently 1 ap- 
pend, immediately after mowing, there should ccme a heavy, drenching rain, yacking the suifa.ee of the soil, the small 
tender plant will be unable to break through the crust, and, of course, never appear on the surface. 
Another source of complaint (perhaps as common as any), is, that all those va ieties of plants that are eaten by 
insects, are frequently destroyed just as coon as they make their appearance, and the gardener net having visited his 
garden for a few days, and not having seen his plants up, ascribes his failures to poor seed. 
If every person cn planting his garden would be sure and make lus soil f.ne and well prepared, there would be 
much less complaint cf poor seed than new. 
Preparation and Management of Hot-Eeds and Cold-Frames. 
To Amateur Gardeners and ever}' one of limited means who cannot af.ord the better and more ccst.y facilities cf 
the Greenhouse, and desire to raise early vegetables for market, the hot-bed is essential, and answers the required 
purpose very well. It should be placed in a warm position, facing the south, and sheltered on the north side by a 
close board fence. Fresh stable manure is the best material fer the bed, although a third part of leaves, well mixed 
with the manure, gives a more steady and uniform heat. The material should be well shaken up, and then allowed to 
remain until fermentation takes place. Then proceed to make the bed, which is commonly five cr six feet wide, and 
ns long as your wants require. 
hi making the bed, care should be taken to have the manure cf the same solid.ty throughout, so the heat will be 
uniform. The bed should be from two to two and cne-half feet high, and cne foct each way 1< nger than t.ie frame. 
After finishing the bed, put the frame sashes on, closing it up. Let it remain a few days, until t ic heat is regular, 
then open and put cn six inches cf good, tich f.nc soil. After the coil becomes warm, sow the seed in rows, water 
with warm water, closing the bed and shade from the hot sun until the seeds germinate, then give plenty of air and 
water as often as the soil appears to be dry. As soon the plants are two inches high, thin out, so as to have them 
?r< w stout and strong. If late in the season, the surplus plants can be set in cold frames. Lettuce, Radish, 
Cabbage, Cauliflower, Pepper and Tomato plants arc commonly started in the hot-bed. 
If not convenient to make a regular hot-bed, a cold-frame answers a very goed purpose to start the hardier varie- 
ties < f vegetables and flowers. The cold-frame is simply the frame and cashes of a het-bed without the manure. 
Prepare the c oil for the frame, making it rich and very fne. Place the frame ever it. cow the seed, covering but 
lig* tly, and, if dry, water with warm water. A cold-f ame requires much lees care and attention than the lmt-bed, 
and as the plants grow slower, they arc generally of itouter growth and will bear transplanting better. Asters, 
Zinnias, Drummond Phlox, Petunias, Balsams, Portulacas, Verbenas, Pansies, and many other varieties of flowers 
can b? successfully started in the cold-frame, although the hot-bed is better. 
