PARK AND CEMETERY, 
47 
SEASONABLE HINTS. 
Go over all the young trees, and the old ones as 
well, for that matter, and thumb prune them. That 
is, rub off all superfluous buds, many of which will 
now show over the butt of the tree and other places 
where not desirable. A little care now will save a 
lot of time in the future, and the trees can be 
grown in true shape without injury. 
■* * * 
Every one admired the magnificent bed of Acaly- 
pha on Mr. Cline’s lawn in Woodland Cemetery, 
Dayton, O., last summer. Its beautiful metallic 
lustre and its erect habit is sure to make it a favor- 
ite for bedding. Some doubt is expressed as to its 
being suitable in all climates. Will Park AND 
CEMETERY readers give us their experiences? 
* * * 
Do not let this spring pass without planting 
vines of some kind around the old trees, buildings, 
fences, etc. Hardy vines are always preferable, 
but where these cannot be afforded a few packages 
of seed will give most pleasing results. Morning 
glories, variegated Japanese hop, Cobea scandens, 
if properly trained, will soon cover unsightly places 
with a man tie of green. 
# # # 
Everyone now fully understands the value of 
spraying as a protection against injurious insects 
and fungus enemies. A spraying machine is now 
as necessary an article of garden furniture as a spade 
or a hoe. P'or fungi take two pounds of quick lime 
slaked in twenty gallons of water, and three pounds 
blue vitriol in two gallons water. Strain the lime 
mixture through burlap into blue vitriol water, mix 
and use with spray pump for all fungous diseases of 
plants and trees. If it is desirable to kill insects 
also, add one-quarter pound of Paris Green to this. 
—Meehan s Monthly for May. 
* * * 
Ants in the soil can be destroyed by means of 
bisulphide of carbon: Make a hole about six inches 
deep in the ant hill with a round dibble, or bar, 
and into it pour a tablespoonful of the liquid, and 
immediately close up the hole with soil. The 
liquid is very volatile and will permeate the soil in 
every direction and destroy all animal life, and not 
injure vegetation. It is very inflammable and must 
be kept away from fire. Ants can often be driven 
away by sprinkling about their haunts ashes satur- 
ated with coal oil. They can be trapped and killed 
by placing sweet oil where they can have access to 
it, as they are very fond of it, but it has the effect 
to close their spiracles and thus kills by asphyxia. 
— From Vicks Magazine for May. 
* * * 
Begonia seeds should not be covered says an 
authority. Merely mix them with a teaspoonful of 
silver sand and sprinkle them over the surface of 
the ground from a perforated tin. These are direc- 
tions for starting seeds indoors, in a box, which 
should be covered with a piece of glass, and over 
this brown paper, as seeds germinate best in the 
dark. The glass must be turned over daily or wiped, 
and the seedlings must have more light when up, 
the brown paper being changed for white, so as to 
give this gradually. When large enough to handle 
the baby begonias may be picked out with a match 
cut into a tiny fork and planted in a row in a box 
of leaf mold, turfy mold, soot and sand, each little 
plant by itself. To stand the box of plants in a 
tray of lime will keep away wood lice. 
ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW, SURREY, 
ENGLAND. 
The following notes are submitted with convic- 
tion that a better idea of this pre-eminent establish- 
ment is a general desire. I wish to emphasize that 
they are but notes rather than a description. 
The present gardens containing 257 acres, are 
in the Parishes of Kew and Richmond and borough 
of Richmond. They are situated nine miles from 
the center of London. The railway station (Kew 
Gardens) of the District, South Western, and Metro- 
politan, and Kew Bridge that of the North London, 
is within five minutes walk of each of the respective 
entrances. 
During the summer, busses, brakes, and river 
steamers assist in conveying visitors to and fro. 
Roughly speaking, the shape of the gardens is 
wedge-quadrangular, lying in a position of N. E. 
and S. W. They are bounded on the north by the 
bank of the River Thames, “Kew Palace” grounds, 
and an open space (Kew Green); on the east by 
Kew Green and Richmond Road; on the south by 
the Queen’s private grounds and Richmond Road, 
and on the west by the Thames embankment and 
the Queen’s private estate. Its topography is virt- 
ually flat; a few mounds of varying heights ami pro- 
portions and several depressions give a slightly roll- 
ing appearance to the whole. 
The soil is principally sandy-gravel, especially 
in the south-western portion. 
Generally speaking, we may say the northeast 
quarter is the “Botanic Garden,” and the remainder 
the Arboretum. The buildings are mostly grouped 
in the Botanic Garden ; the large “Temperate House” 
being a notable exception. The architectural 
structures include the residences and offices of the 
Director and Curator; the residence of the Keeper 
of the Herbarium; three botanical museums; palm- 
house and other glass houses. 
