103 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
1800.] 
from very powerful sunshine. Give water at night occa- 
s onallv if there he drouth. 
Water newly planted trees, if very dry, and mulch, to 
retain she moisture and prevent the surface from crusting. 
Weeds should not be allowed a place in either nursery 
or orchard. 
Kitchen mml Fruit Garden. 
The properly cultivated garden is now yielding its first 
products. Early greens, asparagus, rhubarb, lettuce and 
radishes, etc., have added to the attractions of the table ; 
strawberries give promise of an early treat, and the rap¬ 
idly growing vegetables and fruits that fill a well assort¬ 
ed collection, will keep up the pleasant succession 
throughout the season. 
In the necessary labors of hoeing, weeding, bug trap¬ 
ping, eic , the boys of the family may well receive iheir 
first practical lessons in soil culture. Thoy will be proud 
to exhibit the results of their efforts if they are entrusted 
with responsibility in some of the simpler departments, 
and encouraged by judicious praise. A fine bed of car¬ 
rots or beets will bo their certificate of industry and pains¬ 
taking, a large melon will equal a medal; thus the right 
growth of the household will keep pace with growth in 
the garden. 
Asparagus—Keep all weeds down, and the surface 
loosened by frequent hoeing. Do not continue the cut¬ 
ting later than the ten'll of the month ; late cropping in¬ 
jures the bed. 
Beans—Train running varieties to poles or trellises. Do 
not hoe when wet, avoid throwing earth upon the leaves. 
Early Kidneys and Limas may still be planted, ff. 
Beets—Put in, ff, all not sown for Summer use, and, 
m, 1, for Autumn and Winter crops. If the ground be¬ 
come crusted after sowing, water the rows at night, to 
allow the young plants to push their way through. Hoe 
and weed as soon as the rows can be distinguished. Thin 
out early. The young plants are excellent “greens.” 
Continue to thin as they advance in growth, leaving them 
finally six to eight inches distant in the row. 
Blackberries and Raspberries—Keep all properly se¬ 
cured to stakes and trellises, and train the new growth as 
it advances. If specimens of extra large fruit are desired, 
thin bunches already se>, leaving but few r in the cluster. 
Borecole, Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, Kale, etc —Trans¬ 
plant for late crops, f, m. 
Cabbage and Cauliflower—Sow sred.ff, for latest trans¬ 
planting. Set out, f, m, for Autumn, and, 11, for Winter 
use. Frequent and thorough hoeing will induce rapid 
growth. The cut w orm and other insects must be watch¬ 
ed and destroyed. Replace stunted plants, or those eaten 
off by vermin. 
Carrots will succeed well if sown, flf, though last month 
was more favorable. Deslroy weeds before they become 
troublesome. Thin early to six inches apart in the rows. 
If left loo long, they run up spindling, and fall and are 
checked in grow th w hen thinned. 
Celery—Set plants for the general crop, in trenches, in, 
1, watering and shading as long as needed to prevent 
wilting. Some gardeners prefer setting their celery 
plants upon the surface, in deep rich soil, leaving it to at- 
tain a large growth of leaf, and then hilling it high, to 
blanch the stalks. 
Corn—Continue to plant at inteivals of ten to twelve 
days, to prolong the season of supplies for the table. Va¬ 
cant spots or pints from which early vegetables are ready 
to be gathered, may be planted, to be cultivated after the 
first growth is removed 
Cress—Sow, f, m, 1, for a constant supply. 
Cucumbers, Melons and Squashes—Replant where de¬ 
stroyed by insects. Put in cucumbers for pickles, m, 1. 
Examine early every morning for striped bug and other 
insects, and apply the thumb and finger remedy. See ar¬ 
ticle “ Death to the Bugs” in this number. 
Currants—Pinch off suckers, and straggling shoots on 
those trained to a tree form, which is preferable. Exam¬ 
ine leaves for the “Currant Aphis” described in April 
Agriculturist , page 109, and syringe with whale oil soap, 
or apply lime or ashes. Water the bushes with soap suds 
and other sink wash. 
Egg Plants—Transplant, ff, for full crop, and, m, for 
later bearing. Set them where they may have the full 
benefit of the sunshine, and give frequent hoeings. 
Fruit—Take off nearly or quite all from plants or trees 
set out'.lie present season. The strengih of the plant is 
needed to recover from the check caused by removing. 
Thin out clusters from over bearing trees or bushes. Pro¬ 
tect from birds with netting. Bright pieces of tin sus¬ 
pended in trees or around the fruit plot, will frighten away 
many of ihe feathered plunderers. 
Gooseberries—Keep down all weeds, and the surface 
around them well hoed. Mulch with tan bark, salt hay, 
or saw dust. Keeping the surface of the ground shaded 
and moist, aids in preventing mildew. Thin out the fruit 
to increase the size of the berries. 
Grapes—Do not allow the rapidly growing vines to be¬ 
come a tangled mat of foliage. Remove all shoots that 
interfere with proper training. Where several push out 
at a single joint, leave only one or two. If more than 
two bunches of fruit set on a single spur, thin them out, 
one bunch alone will yield finer fruit. Pinch off Ihe 
ends of the bearing branches at two or three buds beyond 
the last cluster. Examine carefully for insects, and apply 
the remedies recommended for other plants. 
Insects—Read articles on subsequent pages. 
Lettuce—Sow and plant out at intervals of a week to 
keep up a succession of young and tender leaves. Trans¬ 
planting favors a compact growth of the head. Hoe after 
the dew is off, and avoid throwing dirt among the leaves. 
Onions—Weed and hoe frequently. Thin to three or 
four inches in the row. 
Parsneps and Salsafy—Hoe and thin, ff, m, the same as 
for beets and carrots. 
Peas—Plant, If. They nre less troubled by the w eevil 
or pea bug, than those put in earlier. Cover two or three 
inches deep. Keep well hoed. Supply with bushes or 
with stakes and twine for their support, before they fall 
to the earth or clasp each other with their tendrils. 
Potatoes—Iloe and weed thoroughly. Dust freely with 
ashes or air slaked lime, to repel insects. Plant cabbages 
between the row s of the early varieties, to come on after 
the first crop is removed. 
Radishes—Sow at intervals between rows of young car¬ 
rots, beets, etc., among hills of cucumbers and melons, 
and other unoccupied corners. 
Rhubarb—A full supply may be kept by pinching off the 
seed stalks as they appear. Keep the ground around them 
well loosened and free from weeds. A barrel with both 
heads out, set over a plant, will cause its leaf stalks to 
grow long and tender. 
Spinach—Sow, f, m, for continued supplies. Turn un¬ 
der early crops, and replace with fresh sowings or other 
vegetables. 
Strawberries are often injured t>y being beaten down by 
rains into the soil. Clean the bed from grass and w eeds, 
and spread tan bark or cut straw between the rows, and 
under the plants. Read article “ How to pick Strawber¬ 
ries ” on page 181. 
Thin out all plants, vegetables, and fruits that require 
it; there is no profit in crowding the ground. 
Tom does—Transplant, f, m, for late use. Train them 
on trellises or frames as described last month. Shorten 
the branches after the blossoms appear, and keep them 
pruned, to prevent a bushy growth. The yield will be 
greater, and the fruit improved in size. 
Transplanting can be performed with success upon any 
plant, if sufficient care be taken to keep the roots un¬ 
broken, and the soil loosened on the surface, after the 
plant is reset. In this way, missing hills of corn, beans, 
and even melons and cucumbers may be replaced. 
Choose cloudy or wet weather, or towards evening for 
the operation, and give shade if the sun be very powerful. 
Turnips—Sow, ff, m, for Summer use. Those for Win¬ 
ter stores may be left until July. Dust the young plants 
with ashes or soot, to keep off insects. Thin out, and keep 
free from w eeds. 
Water plants lately removed, if the ground be dry. 
Open a hole near the plant, turn in the water, and re¬ 
place dry earth. This will prevent crusting of the surface. 
Where this is not practicable, sprinkle from a watering 
pot, or garden syringe, at evening. 
Weeds in the garden proclaim neglect by the gardener. 
Allow none to make a mark against your industry. Keep 
tile hoe polished by destroying them. 
Winter Cherry (Physalis )—Transplant from the scod 
bed, f, m. If plants are scarce, they may be multiplied 
by cutting off branches and setting them in good soil; 
they take root easily. Seed sowm early may yet germi¬ 
nate. It sometimes lies dormant several weeks before 
vegetation. 
Flower Gardens and ILawsa. 
If properly arranged and well cared for, the Flower 
Garden, Lawn, and Shrubbery, are very attractive now. 
While enjoying the fragrance and beauty of the blooming 
plants, the fine deep green foliage and pleasing outline of 
the evergreens, the gracefully winding drive among 
flower borders, massing plants, stately trees, blooming 
shrubs, and the rich glossy lawn, one feels amply repaid 
for the labor bestowed upon this department of ornamen¬ 
tal gardening, arid, if favored with ample means, resolves 
upon still further improving and extending these grounds, 
alike the pride of the owner, and the delight of visitors. 
The labors of re-arranging the old, or forming new 
grounds, planting trees and shrubs, sowing seeds, and 
otherwise preparing for a summer bloom, have been com 
pleted, and a brief rest may be taken. Not long, how¬ 
ever, can the florist be idle, for a volunteer crop of w eed 
and flowers not wanted, have already sprung up. and ar 
striving for the mastery. They w ould soon entirely over¬ 
run the delicate flowers, if left unchecked. With hoe, 
rake, and weeding knife, the gardener must commence a 
war of extermination during this growing month. Nor is 
it sufficient to merely keep down weeds. The ground 
should be frequently stirred, or it will crust or bake upon 
the surface, shutting out air and dews from the roots, and 
turning away the rain which should penetrate the soli. A 
fine toothed rake is a good implement for lightening tho 
surface, and at the same time disturbing the w eed seeds 
about sending up their shoots. Besides keeping down the 
weeds, there are many plants to be removed or thrown 
away; it is impossible to have healthy foliage and a fine 
bloom in crowded grounds. 
Some of the early flowering bulbs have finished bloom¬ 
ing, and may now give plane to other plants. It is not loo 
late to sow many of the quick growing annuals, or those 
sown last month may be transplanted in their place 
Bedding Plants—Complete setting verbenas, geraniums, 
petunias, pansies, daisies, dicentras, etc., ff. 
Box Edgings may still be set, ff, ip. Trim or shear old 
borders, m, 1, on damp or cloudy days. Keep well hoed, 
and replace any unsightly or defective plants w ith those 
of thrifty growth. 
Bulbs—Lift, 11, those to be reset in the Fall. Dry them 
in the shade, and lay in drawers or wrap in papers, care¬ 
fully labeling. 
Carnations and other Pinks—Keep well tied up while 
in bloom. By shading with a muslin screen during mid¬ 
day, the flowering season may be much prolonged. Lay¬ 
er and make cuttings, f, m. 
Climbers of all kinds should be kept well secured to 
stakes or trellises. If to be laid down in the Fall, do not 
allow them to twine in such a way that they can not be 
easily removed. They should be kept from passing and 
repassing through the meshes of wire or slat lattice work. 
Dahlias—Plant out any remaining roots, ff, watering 
freely. Stake up those set last month, leaving, utmost, 
but two shoots to a root—one is still better. 
Evergreens may still be set out, ff, m. Remove them 
with earth about the roots, when practicable, and water 
freely at the time of setting. Those set last month, wiil 
do better if watered during dry w eather. 
Flower Stalks—Cut away as fast as they are out of 
bloom. They have an unsightly appearance when left in 
the flower border. They should give place to the later 
growing annuals. 
Geraniums—Plant out, ff, any remaining in pots. They 
mass finely, either in distinct colors, or w hen mixed. 
Gladioluses—Stake, II, those put out last month. 
Grass Edgings, or Borders—The grass is now growing 
rapidly, and needs frequent clipping and an occasional 
trimming or paring at the edges, to prevent its extending 
into the beds oj paths. 
Gravel Walks—Keep free from grass and weeds, raking 
and rolling frequently. Add fresh gravel to old paths. 
Hedges—Clip, m, 1, rapidly growing deciduous, and 
even evergreen hedges. 
Hoes should not be idle during this growing month. 
Keep them in constant use, hoeing up weeds and loosen¬ 
ing the soil. 
House Plants—Green-house, hot-house, and parlor- 
plants have nearly all been transferred to these grounds, 
some of them for summer blooming, others to attain u 
flowering size by the time they are returned to the houses 
in the Fall. Some have been planted out, while others 
are plunged in the earth and shou'd re lifted, pot arid all, 
and turned so as to separate any roots extending through 
the hole at the bottom. Pinch back freely, to form fine 
bushy plants. 
Insects are now providing for future broods. Forestall 
their operations by destroying the parent stock. 
Lawn—Keep the grass in a fine thic k mat by cutting of¬ 
ten—at least every fortnight. See article upon cutting 
grass, on page 160. Do not allow grass or weeds to grow 
about the trunks of small trees, particularly those newly 
planted. A circle of from four to six feet in diameter, 
with the tree as a center, should be kept w ell hoed or 
raked over. Cut the turf smooth and even, in a true cir¬ 
cle, and remove the earth around the edge for a few inches 
in depth, raising a slight mound about the trunk. To 
make it still more ornamental, a few verbenas, petunias, 
salvias, or other flow ering plants, may be sparsely planted 
upon this mound. They will injure the tree far less than 
the elosely matted roots of different, grasses. If the grass 
has a weak, unhealthy appearance, give a lop dressing of 
bone sawings, guano, or a sprinkling of liquid manure. 
Roses are the pride of the flow er garden tri June. From 
the lpw growing Tea to the standard Bourbon, June, Ptl- 
