294 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[July, 
cheaper to buy the plants, which are offered 
by seedsmen generally, during the present 
month. The bed for Celery should be well 
prepared by spading in an abundance of 
well-decomposed manure. Market gardeners 
plant the crop upon land that has been heav- 
a fine narcissus ( Narcissus bicolor Horsfaldii). 
ily manured for early cabbages, cauliflowers, 
onions, etc. But whether the manure has 
been applied for a previous crop or not, the 
soil should be very rich, and if the manure 
is now applied, it should be well incorporated 
with the soil. The plants are set in rows 4 
feet apart and 6 inches distant in the rows. 
The line being stretched, it is to be beaten 
gently with the spade, in order to leave a 
mark on the soil to serve as a guide in plant¬ 
ing. While cabbage and some other plants 
should be set deeper than they were in the 
seed-bed, this is not the case with Celery, 
which forms no distinct stem, and in trans¬ 
planting should be set no deeper than it was 
before. If the transplanting can be done in 
a moist time, all the better; but if it must 
be done when the soil is dry, an abundant 
watering of the plants soon after setting will 
be of great service. All plants, when trans¬ 
planted, should have the soil well pressed 
around the roots. Celery, especially, needs 
attention to this “ firming,” as the gardeners 
term it; if this has been properly done, very 
few plants will fail; still it is well to have a 
few plants in reserve, to supply any de¬ 
ficiencies that may occur in the rows. After 
the Celejy is planted, there is nothing to be 
done to the crop for the next two months 
except to encourage the growth by frequent 
hoeing, which will remove such weeds as 
may start, and keep the soil light and open. 
A Beautiful Narcissus. 
Our flower growers do not, as a general 
thing, give the attention to the plants classed 
as “ bulbs,” that they deserve. They pur¬ 
chase of the dealers in autumn, Hyacinths, 
Jonquils, Narcissus, etc., with¬ 
out much regard to the kinds. 
The genus Narcissus, for ex¬ 
ample, in its several species and 
hybrids, offers a great variety of 
beautiful flowers, and is worthy 
of special attention. Some of 
them make charming plants for 
forcing. What for example can 
be more pleasing as a green-house 
decoration, than the old, though 
by no means common. Hoop-pet¬ 
ticoat Narcissus (Narcissus bulbo- 
codium) ? A pot containing half 
a dozen of these little bulbs, 
makes a bright spot in the green¬ 
house, and one that retains its 
beauty for a long time. It is also 
excellent as a window plant; the 
bulbs are to be potted and kept in 
the cellar, until they form abun¬ 
dant roots; they may then be 
brought into the warmest and 
lightest place in the window, and 
will soon show their bright and 
delicate flowers. Among the 
species of Narcissus, the two col¬ 
ored (N. bicolor), has long been a 
favorite, and within a few years, 
a variety called Horsfaldii, has 
been introduced, which is far 
superior to the old form in size 
and coloring. Having procured 
some bulbs last autumn, on ac¬ 
count of the great praise given it 
in the European journals, we 
awaited its blooming this spring 
with no little interest, and were 
not disappointed. The flower is 
really fine ; the engraving from 
one of these, shows the large size 
of its crown. The petals are of a 
rich creamy white, while the large and hand¬ 
somely fringed or scollopped crown, is what 
may be termed a bright lemon-color. We 
have no doubt that this fine variety of Nar¬ 
cissus will be a splendid plant for forcing, 
the large size of its flower especially com¬ 
mending it for this purpose. The foliage is 
ample, but there is nothing peculiar about it. 
Irrigation in the Garden. 
Every one who has thought about the mat¬ 
ter, is aware that the great necessity of our 
horticulture is irrigation. 
What fruit growers and 
vegetable raisers need more 
than anything else, is to be 
insured against loss from 
the severe drouths which, 
in our uncertain climate, 
may ruin their crops out¬ 
right, or so diminish them 
that they are unprofitable. 
Every strawberry grower 
of* experience has known 
seasons in which adequate 
watering at the right time 
would have given him an 
abundant crop. The saving 
of a single crop of strawberries will often war¬ 
rant a considerable outlay for irrigating im¬ 
provements, which, when once made, will last 
for many years. In those States where an 
annual drouth may be depended upon, irriga¬ 
tion is accepted as a matter of course, and is 
provided for. We have no doubt that, in the 
near future* irrigation will be regarded as a 
necessity in profitable gardening in all parts 
of the country, and those who soonest adopt 
it will reap the greatest profit. In selecting 
a new location for a market or a fruit gar¬ 
den, the possibilities of irrigating it should 
be considered. In most established gardens, 
some method may be found for the intro¬ 
duction of water, either from a stream not 
far distant, or by establishing artificial reser¬ 
voirs. As an example of what may be done, 
we give the experience of A. D. Lee, Linn 
Co., Kansas, with a plan from a sketch sent 
by him. Mr. L. says: “ In order to procure 
water for our stock, we built a dam across a 
little valley which drains a pasture of about 
ten acres. White willows were planted to 
support the dam or embankment. The res¬ 
ervoir covers about half an acre; the water, 
which is about ten feet deep, remains per¬ 
fectly clear all summer, and is well stocked 
with fish. Our garden, of about an acre of 
rich loam, is located just below the dam. 
Two canals, N and S, are provided to carry 
off the water in case of an overflow. By 
means of little gates at N and S, these canals 
can at any time be filled with water, which 
may be guided between the rows as needed. 
The sketch shows the arrangement at a 
glance. This garden, last summer, fairly 
laughed at the drouth, which completely de¬ 
stroyed the garden crops in the county—such 
lettuce, peas, beans, cabbages, etc. ! We 
went into winter quarters with the most 
luxuriant strawberry-bed I ever saw in any 
State, while the plants of our neighbors were 
nearly all destroyed by the drouth. I would 
not try to have a garden again without 
water.” The experience of Mr. Lee accords 
with that of all who have irrigated their 
gardens. Of course the great point is a sup¬ 
ply of water; and while all places will not 
allow of the construction of a reservoir like 
this, such localities are more common than 
is generally supposed. In the absence of 
other supply of water, it may be raised from 
a well by a pump operated by a windmill, 
and stored in a wooden tank or in a cemented 
cistern, made in elevated ground. In irriga¬ 
tion an abundant supply of water is given, 
and the soil moistened to a great depth. The 
nourishment thus given to the plants is not 
the only advantage to be derived from this 
method. Many of our most destructive in¬ 
sects pass a portion of their existence either 
in the larval or chrysalis state in the soil; its 
saturation by irrigation is one of the most 
effective means of destroying them, and 
this of itself would go far to pay the 
cost of arranging means of irrigation. 
