80 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
like a finely-tinted painting, and abundantly 
compensate for any lack of flowers. 
And this suggests the remark that in the 
selection of shrubs, regard should be had to 
the beauty of their foliage rather than of 
their flowers. Their flowers last, at the 
longest, only a week or two, while their 
joliage is the delight of a whole Summer, 
ft is important, also, to choose those whose 
leaves expand early in Spring, and remain 
green and fresh late in Autumn. The twigs 
of some shrubs have bright-colored bark, 
and are a pleasing sight in Winter when 
grouped together. Among these we now re¬ 
call the white bark of the Tartarian (bush) 
honeysuckle, the green of the Corchorus and 
Magnolia Glauca, the grey of the Missouri 
Silver-tree, and the crimson of the Cornus 
Sanguinea. 
Shrubs are sometimes planted singly upon 
the lawn. In such situations, they develop 
their branches freely on every side, and at¬ 
tain their highe-st individual beauty. When 
so planted, the most rare, beautiful and sym¬ 
metrical kinds should be chosen. In laying 
■out small grounds, an appearance of greater 
extent may be produced by using shrubs and 
small trees. These may be arranged on the 
same principles that large trees are disposed 
in extensive places. Belts, groups, single 
specimens, evergreens or deciduous trees, 
all may be planted with as much scientific 
skill as though the premises were measured 
by acres instead of rods. We have seen 
this tried in a neighbor’s grounds, and with 
so good results, that we heartily recom¬ 
mend it. 
In improving grounds, large or small, it is 
often desirable to screen the view of one 
part from another. In very large, park-like 
places, this may be done by planting masses 
of full sized trees. But in places of ordinary 
extent, it is not expedient to waste so much 
ground as such trees would cover. Here, 
shrubs and small trees do excellent service. 
By setting them in waving lines and scat¬ 
tered groups, cutting off views in advance, 
concealing walks from each other, and so 
creating intricacy and variety, some of the 
finest effects of landscape-gardening will be 
realized. As an illustration of this point, we 
refer to the grounds of the late A. J. Down¬ 
ing, at Newburgh. As planted by him, 
they presented several distinct scenes. One 
opened upon the spectator soon after enter¬ 
ing the gate. Proceeding along the walk, he 
came to another directly in front of the 
house. This was a most beautiful lawn, en¬ 
circled and embellished with rare trees and 
shrubs; and it was so secluded from the 
other portions of the premises, that the 
stranger supposed it to be the whole of the 
cultivated grounds. But pursuing the course 
of the walk a short distance, through a laby¬ 
rinth of shrubbery, another lawn revealed 
itself', nearly as large and beautiful as the 
first! This, again, was screened from other 
portions of the grounds by groups of small 
trees and shrubbery. This place contained 
only a few acres, but by this simple man¬ 
agement was made to appear much larger. 
Compliments are only prismatic bubbles, 
blown with the aid of “ soft soap.” 
fLOWERS FOR FARMERS. 
We have frequently had occasion to say 
a word to farmers on the subject of flow¬ 
ers. Spring-time is upon us, the time of 
birds and flowers, and soon the air will be 
filled with fragrance and melody. What 
time more appropriate to make another ap¬ 
peal to our farmer friends especially, to 
gather around the homestead a few choice 
flowers ? Some are deterred because they 
consider it expensive, but many more for 
reasons of a very different kind. Trouble 
and expense need be no excuse, for you can 
begin in a small way, and mostly avoid both. 
If you cannot spare the lime and means to 
make and furnish a lawn, or form a garden 
proper, at least set aside a small border for 
flowering shrubs and plants, which will form 
the nucleus for more extended operations. 
Let your wife and children feel that there is 
one part of the farm that they can in some 
sense call their own, and they will doubtless 
relieve you of all trouble, save the mere 
spading of the ground. The general care ol 
a flower border is peculiarly suited to their 
habits and tastes, and they will take delight 
in it, and be much benefitted by the health¬ 
ful exercise. But it is your duly to furnish 
them with the material, and in this particu¬ 
lar we can probably assist you. First of all, 
the ground must be deeply trenched and 
well manured, to make it suitable for the 
healthy and vigorous growth of plants. 
Next send to some good nurseryman and 
get a collection of flowering shrubs and 
vines, such as the following : Spiraeas, Deut- 
zias, Hardy Azaleas, Altheas, Syringas, 
Viburnums, Loniceras (Honeysuckles), Caly- 
canthus Floridus (scented shrub), Amygdalus 
Pumila (double flowering Almond), Pyrus 
Japonica (Japan Quince), Poeonia Moutan 
(tree Peony), Forsythia Viridissima, Euony- 
mus, Weigelea Rosea, Wistaria Sinensis 
(Chinese Wistaria), Philadelphia Coronarius 
(fragrant Syringo), &c., not forgetting a 
choice collection of bush and climbing roses. 
Of herbaceous plants, Phloxes, Spiraeas, 
Aquilegias (Columbine), Campanulas (bell 
flowers), Delphiniums (Larkspur), Chrysan¬ 
themums (Artemisias), Lychnis, Lupinus, 
Dianthus (pinks), &c., Pceonias, Dielytra 
Spectabilis, &c., are indispensable. For bed¬ 
ding plants, Verbenas, Petunias, Scarlet Ge¬ 
raniums, Cupheas, Heliotropes, Nierember- 
gias, &c., are the best. These last are ten¬ 
der, and require to be taken in the house 
during the Winter. They may all be propa¬ 
gated by cuttings in the Fall, or the old 
plants, after being cut in, may be lifted, pot¬ 
ted, and placed in the sitting-room near the 
window, where many of them will flower 
during the Winter. 
In addition to the above, sow the seed of 
some choice annuals, such as Alyssum Mar- 
itimuin (Sweet Alyssum), Reseda Odorata 
(Migonette), Phlox Drummondii, Dianthus 
Chinensis, Clarkia, Portulaca, Zinnia, Bal¬ 
sams, &c., and you will have a collection 
of plants which, with comparatively small 
labor, will make your border gay with flow¬ 
ers from Spring till Autumn. The border 
prepared, and the plants put in, the only 
labor will be transplanting some of the annu¬ 
als, stirring the ground occasionally, and 
keeping it free from weeds. The best way 
to keep clear of the latter is never to let 
them grow ; cut them down when young 
and tender, if you would master them, and 
not have them master you. 
We have thus suggested a cheap and sim¬ 
ple plan of adding to the homestead some of 
the loveliest objects that can adorn even a 
palace. Now, we expect to hear you say, 
“ Well, to be sure, that’s all very nice.” But 
that is not enough ; we want you to do some¬ 
thing nice. If we were your wife, we know 
what we would do. We rather think that 
flower border would be made. 
GRAPE CULTURE—NO. IV- 
BY WILLIAM CHORLTON. 
Comparatively speaking, the grape grower will 
now begin to have busy work. The various suc¬ 
cessions of the exotics are more or less in activi¬ 
ty, from the swelling bud to nearly full-sized 
grapes, and the natives are beginning to develop, 
which renders it necessary that we should be on 
the alert, and see that no former advice has been 
neglected. 
VINEYARD AND OUT-DOOR CULTURE. 
In this department, when the buds are burst so 
far as to show which are likely to be the most 
suitable shoots for training in the right places, or 
to be left for fruiting, go over the whole and rub 
off all that are not wanted, or which, if left, would 
produce superfluous growth. This operation re^ 
quires some study as the work proceeds. A ref¬ 
erence to the illustrations in former articles will 
explain what is here meant, and the mind will 
readily perceive which buds ought to be taken out 
and which left to grow. I wish most particularly 
to impress the importance of this dis-budding 
upon all who desire either profit, or grapes of the 
best quality. It will also save much after-labor in 
the way of Summer pruning, and be of advantage 
to the vines and fruit by more fully exposing the 
leaves to air and light. The branches are less 
crowded, and the carbonic acid more thoroughly 
decomposed, thus forming a larger amount of sac¬ 
charine matter in the fruit, and better ripened and 
firmer wood for the next year. 
COLD GRAPERY. 
The vines in this house may now be uncovered, 
even in the coldest localities. Examine them to 
see if any injury h'as been done by the extreme 
cold of the past Winter, which will show itself in 
the form of longitudinal slits, or openings along 
the canes, especially near the upper extremities. 
These will, in a short time, become dark-colored 
on the edges, and begin to “ bleed,” and without 
great caution the whole, or a large portion of the 
cane, will die off. The best thing in such cases 
is to tie the stem to the roof-wires at once, and 
keep a lower temperature for a week or two. If, 
notwithstanding this, the buds do not burst, and 
the sap still continues to ooze out-, do not cut 
