AU@. 48 
THE BDRAL NEW-YOR 
O 
403 
and good-hearted neighbor, and as soon as the 
second loavoe appeared begun to thin out and 
hoc, and aa I used a one-horso cultivator be¬ 
tween the rows, which were twenty-seven inches 
apart, the hand-hoeing went off much quicker 
than it would otherwise have done. 
At the present moment the earliest-planted 
ones completely cover the ground, and the later 
ones will do so in another week from this time— 
Aug. 1st. 
It ia to be regretted that more about root 
culture for cuttle and sheep should not be known ; 
as here, in this highly intelligent neighborhood, 
people say July is early enough for swedes and 
August for turnips. This, although true for 
gardens and for human food, is altogether too 
late for cattle food. Generally speaking, antnmn 
plowing is considered necessary for successful 
root culture, but in this instance no one can dis¬ 
pute the fact of a fine crop being grown on a 
very rough field, with no preparation till the 
middle of May. Geo. Gardner. 
HARDY FLOWERS FOR AUGUST. 
BY WILLIAM FALCONER, IlOTANIC GARDENS, 
CAMBRIDGE, 
There is rather a dearth of hardy flowers 
about this time—Delphiniums, Lychnises, Ve¬ 
ronicas, herbaceous Hpirieas, Columbines, and 
I’cntstemons being mostly past, and tbe Sunflow¬ 
er, Golden Hod and Aster season is only ap¬ 
proaching. However, wo have in perfection 
even now, a goodly number of showy hardy per¬ 
ennials, enough to modify tho Pelargonium and 
Verbena glare and furnish our nosegay vases. 
At this season the brilliance of our “ bedding” 
plants generally tends to overrule our hardy 
plant <: but when the two classes are combined, 
perhaps the moat satisfactory results are attain¬ 
ed. I love Columbines amt Pelargoniums. Pcnt- 
alemons and Verbenas, Lilies and Heliotropes— 
in fact, any (lowers that are strikingly pretty, 
brilliant, or fragrant, and particularly such as 
are suitable for parlor or hand bouquets— a va¬ 
riety, rather than oppressive monotony. 
I like to see t.hu farmer's doorsido adorned 
with Fuchsias, African Lilies, Oleanders, Cac¬ 
tuses, Begonias, Lantanas, Artillery, Century, 
and other plants illustrative of the Mrs.’or Miss- 
on’ winter earn, but not. so at tho expense of the 
beautiful genera and species that require no Much 
attention. Annuals as a substitute for perennials 
won’t do either; but as auxiliaries, they are wel- 
comely admissible. As allies, too, wo counten¬ 
ance with pleasure the host of herbaceous, woody- 
Btoinmcd, and amimU vines as Morning Glories, 
trumpet Creepers, Virginia Creepers, Cypress 
Vines, Clematises, Mignonette Vines, aud many 
others, that drape our verandas, cover our ar¬ 
bors, climb our pillars, hide our fences, or servo 
as screens. 
As your space denies me the privilege of men¬ 
tioning tlie most showy or our seasonable hardy 
plants vines, shrubs, and herbaceous—I will 
coufino myself to the last-named section, and as 
a prelude, offer tho following 
TIMELY REMARKS. 
As soon as the plants have done blooming, cut 
off the seed'-producing portion of tho stems and 
remove stakes, and as tho stems and leaves be¬ 
come unsightly, cut them over. Delphiniums. 
CentranthuM, Aconites, and some others, if cut 
back aa soon aw they have done blooming, may 
bloom again this season. As (lowers decay, re¬ 
move them at once, and thus induce a more con¬ 
tinued supply. Attend to staking and Going. If 
required, collect seeds of Foxgloves, Canterbury 
Dolls, Hollyhocks, Sweet Williams, and other bi¬ 
ennials and Homo perennials, and sow soon after¬ 
wards. Californian annuals are more satisfactory, 
too, when sown in the fall. As the majority of 
perennials are best propagated by dividing tho 
clumps in spring, seed-saving and sowing of such 
kinds, unless for a definite purpose—as great in¬ 
crease of stock—is not advisable. Subjoined, 
mo a few of our finest hardy perennials just now 
(Aug. 1) in perfection ; but even these do not 
comprise anything like all-in fact, Composites 
are ent irely omitted. 
Biiloxes. Tho tall 1'hlox (P. jiatiiculata ,) 
perhaps the finest perennial of its season, 2 to 4 
ft. high, of varions shades of purple, red, and 
white. Rome of tho varieties raisod and named 
by florists are extremely beautiful. 
Columbines. — The Rocky Mountain Yellow 
( Ai/uitegia chrysantkn) since June 18, has been 
blooming profusely, and promises to see Septem¬ 
ber unexhausted. It is hardy and showy, aud 
11l>cns seeds and self-sows itself superfluously. 
1 ho Rocky Mountain Rod (.1. Iruncala), not un¬ 
like our common Canada Columbine, is com¬ 
panionable in season with A. chpysanlha , but by 
no means so profuse a bloomer. 
Lilies. —Glorious plants, affording a succes¬ 
sion from May till September. L. longiJloi~uvi 
is just past; superbum , with from sovon to twen¬ 
ty orange-red (lowers on each panicle ; ami the 
Tiger Lily (L. tigrinwn) with cottony bulhlct- 
benring stems and orange-red flowers, are at 
their best; and approaching perfection are the 
Japanese species, L. auratum and specioButn, so 
lovely and fragrant. 
Day Lilies.—T ho Blue Day-Lily (Finikin Gra¬ 
ta) is almost past, but the White (/•'. snbcnrdatd) 
With long, funnel-shaped fragrant flowers, is 
very fine. The Common Day Lily (Hemerocallis 
fair.a) bloomed freely all through July, and now 
has not ceased; there is a beautiful double-flow¬ 
ering variety much finer than tho single. 
S cider worts ( Tradescantid). T. pilom , a 
Western species, with somewhat short, lanceo¬ 
late, acuminate. pubescent loaves, and dense ter¬ 
minal and axillary umbels of blue flowers. It 
blooms later than T. Virginian, of which there 
are blue, purple, aud white varieties. 
Loosestrifes ( f/ysimaeftia). The white, ()„ 
ckthnndra), tho finest of the genus, 2 lo II ft. 
high, with terminal racomeaof densely-set white 
flowers. In the fall, its leaves become beauti¬ 
fully suffused with yellow aud crimson. /,. Ian- 
ceolala, a native of the West and South, 12 to 20 
inches high, with narrow loaves, branching stoma 
and pretty yellow flowers. 
Dei.l-flowf.uh ( Campanula).- Harebells and 
Canterbury Dolls wore in better condition a month 
ago than they are now; but 0 . Oarpalhica , 
which forms thick cushions, is covered with open 
bluo bells. 
Platnr.od,on grandiflorum, also of tho Boll- 
flower family, native of Siberia, 2 ft. high, with 
terminal branching panicles of showy, widely* 
open bluo or white tlowors. A very lino but 
comparatively Moarco plant. 
Monkshoods (Acrmitum). .1. varicgaluw, one 
of tho best, with loose panicles of bluo and white 
flowers; A. Lycoctonum, or Wolfsbane, yellow . 
and A. ferox and others, blue. 
Cardinal Flower (lobelia aardinalis.) — 
Found wild in damp places, also cultivated in 
gardens for its terminal racemes of scarlet flow¬ 
ers. Knglish florists have obtained several va¬ 
rieties, varying in color from intense scarlet to 
rose and white. 
Bee-Balm (Monarda didyma).- Also a native 
of damp places, lmt. one of our most beautiful 
and brilliant garden perennials. Tho (lowers are 
bright red in distinct, whorls. 
Verbena Avhtetia ,—A handsome species of 
compact habit, with purple to rose-purple flowers 
that are freely borne, and pinnatifid leaves. 
A native of tbe West and South. V. venom, a 
profuse, bluish-violet, Brazilian species, that ia 
hardy hero if the roots he heavily mulched. 
Oicmtra e.rimia One or the earliest plants 
to bloom in spring, and even now is only at its 
best. It, grows wild in t.ho Alleghanies. is from 
1) to 15 inches high, and has rosy-pnrplo flowers 
and foru-liko loaves. A charming plant for bor¬ 
ders or rockwork, but a favorite lodgment for 
wire-worms and out-worms. 
Cnrydaiis aurea, In early spring those began 
to bloom, and every week since then, the cush¬ 
ions of flowers and leaves have increased. 
Rea Lavender (Slatlea). -,S. incana, 12 to 18 
inches high, with broad corymbose paniclos 
Of red and gray flowers. 8, tali folia, 20 to 30 
inches, with grayish-blue flowers. 8. Limoni um, 
var. Oarolinianum, 15 to 18 indies, with bine 
(lowers, nro nil in fine condition. 
Fveninu Primroses ((Enolhera). — Amongst 
the best are (E. MiHsouriansis of prostrate hab¬ 
it, with bright yellow flowers 4 to fi inches 
across; (E. fruliaom var. linearis, a foot high, 
laden with small yellow flowers ; IK. Lamarck- 
ianu, fragrant), catspitosa, spaciosa, taraxicifo- 
iia, and trichoaalyx, 
Stonri rops (Sed.um ).—Hineo the middle of 
July, 8. album has been crowded with elegant 
corymbs of white flowers that promise well for a 
week or two to oomo. It is 4 to (J inches high, 
with little fat, oblong, cylindrical leaves, very 
hardy, and flourishes in dry places. S. spurium, 
of various hues of rose, flesh, aud carmine, 4 to 
8 inches high, with roundhh notched leaves, is 
also very atlraotivu. 
GYI'SOPIIILAS. —Neglected plants, that bloom 
from June till September. The blooms are ex¬ 
ceedingly numerous, small, white, or sometimes 
pinkish, and borne on gracefully branched and 
forked loose compound cymes. Asa bouquet- 
fringe, tho flower sprays are most suitable. 
Music Mallow ( Malm taoschata).— An ex¬ 
tremely profuse blooming plant, 2 to 4 ft. high, 
ranch branched ; flowers, rose to white, 2 to 2% 
inches across. 
CaUtrrhue involuerata, a native from tbe plains 
of Nebraska southwards, has decumbent spread¬ 
ing stems and brilliant purplish-crimson flowers 
that are freely produced all summer. 
“ AVrriTK• FLO w kii r no’’ Rpuboe (Euphorbia co¬ 
rolla ta ).—A hardy perennial, 2 to 3 ft. high, and 
a native of New York, southwards and westwards. 
The leaves are linear and green, and the (lowers 
in corymbose umbels, are surrounded by five 
pure-white, corolla-liko appendages. It doosnot 
ripen seods with tis; but this year, where wo 
had only one plant last year, I soo wo have throe; 
tho extra two about a foot apart—havo sprung 
from tho roots of tho old plant. It is a very 
showy plant, and the “(lowers” last well after 
being cut. Last year in the market in Washing¬ 
ton, I saw them freely used in cheap bouquets. 
-♦♦♦- 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS. 
Auoust 6. 
Salvia orandift,ora mooLon,—“ A new va¬ 
riety,” so says the description, “from Europe. 
Tho foliage ia variegated with white, and the 
(lowers are white and rose, with a scarlet lip.” 
Heed of tho above (sent to ua for trial) was 
sown in the house, and young plants put out 
the latter part of May. The foliage is not varie¬ 
gated with white or any other color, and tho 
(lowers are a dull rose. 
Again wo have given Zinnia Darwinii, a trial 
without being able to find out wherein it differs 
from the species It. elagam. 
From Petunia seeds—which were the result 
of careful pollonation between single and double 
flowers- our plants bearing double flowers will 
average one-sixth. 
The Praise which wo a week or so ago, be¬ 
stowed upon Uodvtia “ Lady Albemarle," was its 
due at that time. Since, the plants, as if ex¬ 
hausted with blooming, have all died. 
It has been supposed that the fancy (Jala- 
diuuis like Beethoven, Alfred Bleu, Bicolor, Atn- 
abilis, Bardlet, and numberless others, were 
worthless for out-of-door culture. Early this 
season we placed several in a shady border where, 
owing to our frequent showers, artificial water¬ 
ing has boon unnecessary. They have preserved 
quite well their rich colors, and have grown as 
well as under tho usual treatment they receive in 
greenhouses. Evidently, however, shade and 
moisture arc indispensable to their well being. 
Eustoma Rushelianum is one or the most 
beautiful of (lowers. The buds are twisted like 
those of Ipomaas. The flower is of an indigo- 
blue, two and a half inchuH across ; the bottoms 
of the petals splashed with black and margined 
with, greenish-yellow. Tbe stigmas resemble in 
color and form the cotyledons of bronze Pelar¬ 
goniums, being golden-yellow. Our only plant, 
was sent to Us from Texas, w here it is called 
Prairie Tulip, a very appropriate name, since 
both leaves aud flowers would suggest, from 
their general appearance, those of tho Tulip. It 
is eighteen inches high, and consists of a single 
stem up to six inches, when it. blanches into a 
dozen, oaeh bearing one flower, as described 
Tho leaves aro smooth, entire, ovate-lanceolate, 
stem-clasping, from one to two inches long. It 
thrives in a shady place, and is well worthy of 
conservatory culture. 
Itnus Cotinum.— Our Hmoko Trees, which last 
season wore all smoke, are this year all foliage. 
Dr. Gray remarked to a friend, while looking at 
one of these shrubs in bis grounds that was half- 
dead, though last year it had bloomed profusely 
—“ It shows, you see, tho had effects of too 
much smoking." As our plants are more vigor¬ 
ous than ever, it is evident that smoking is not 
alike injurious to different individuals. 
Three Years ago this spring, wo worked a 
cion of Baldwin upon a summer apple tree. This 
cion now bears two apples. The young Baldwin 
from which tho cion was taken, lias been four 
years transplanted and lias not yet blossomed 
nor need wo, for that matter, expect it to fruit 
for several years to come. Now, it is a question 
whether it is not “ worth while" to work late 
upon early apples, so that tho tree may bear 
half, or a part of early, and half, or more, of 
late fruit. In this neighborhood, late apples arc 
worthless on account of the codling moth. Tho 
two Baldwin apples are intact, while most of tho 
summer apples are worm-eaten, 
- 
SETTING STRAWBERRY PLANTS, ETC. 
Htrawkerry plants may be set in August and 
September up to the middle of tbe month, and 
some growers claim that they may be set as late 
as October 1st; but it is not safe, as a general 
rule, to set them later than Bcptoinbor 15 at tho 
North. In tbe Houthern Htalos they may bo set 
as late as October or November. 
“ What is the advantage of setting strawberry 
plants in tho fall ?" may bo asked. It consists 
m getting more friut the next season than if set 
in the spring—not a full crop, however, till tbe 
second season; but when one transplants tho 
runners that grow on his own premises, they can 
lie so managed that almost a full crop can be 
produced the next season. It Is done thus : 
Water your plants thoroughly, then take up 
the host-rooted plants (runners of this season) 
with garden trowel in a way not to disturb tho 
roots, aud immediately press tho moist soil around 
them in a ball, and lay each plant thus treated 
in a shallow basket or a tin pan; and when you 
have taken up about a dozen, set them out im¬ 
mediately, and as deep as you can without cov¬ 
ering tho crowns of the plants, at tho same timo 
pinching off all tho leaves but two or throe of 
the newest, such as stand most upright in tho 
crowns. Then water freely, and oontinuo to 
water abundantly, if tho weather l>o dry, near 
the close of tho day being tlie best timo. In set¬ 
ting the plants, tho roots should be spread out 
horizontally, but inclining downward. 
STRAWBERRY PUNTS BY MAIL. 
Any person desirous of procuring new varie¬ 
ties from a distance, Can wifely order them to bo 
sent by mail. 1 havo sent them 2,000 miles in 
that way safely. It is done as follows:—The 
roots are carefully wrapped In damp moss, from 
a half to three-quarters of an inch thick, the 
moss being as wot as it can bo made without 
dripping, and pressed around tho roots as firmly 
as possible, first rolling them into a small, com¬ 
pact. ball somewhat elongated; thou stout (not 
thick) Manilla wrapping paper, that has been 
made waterproof by oiling with boiled linseed 
oil, is wrapped around tlm roots firmly, leaving 
the ends of the leaves of the plants slightly ex¬ 
posed to give them air, or they would die in 
warm weather; twine is now to bo wound around 
the paper, securing it. in its place, and at. tho 
same time bolding a tag in close contact with 
the package, on which tho address of tho pur¬ 
chaser is written. Tho postage is one cent per 
ounce or fraction of an ounce. 
GROWING THE PLANTS IN POTS. 
Romo dealers in strawberry plants grow thorn 
in small pots, and send them to customers by 
express, claiming that by removing such plants 
from the pots into tho bed without disturbing 
their roots, a full crop for fruit will be produced 
the next, season. Tins refers to plants set from 
puts in August or HcpLombcr ; bill it is not a foot 
that a full crop will be produced the first season, 
but only a partial crop ; but the crop is hotter 
than when plants aro set in tho ordinary way, 
with their roots laid bare in taking them up. 
They aro started in pots as follows: - When the 
joints of tlm runners aro about to take root, sink 
the small pots under them even with the surface 
of the ground, and Imry the joints slightly in tho 
pots, placing a small stone on each pot to show 
where they are, or a peg stuck by tho side of 
them would answer thosamo purpose. The run¬ 
ners are not to be detached from the parent vino 
till the plants have become well rooted in tho 
pots; thou the pots arc taken up and sent to 
customers, or used on one’s premises ; the earth 
being detached from the pots without disturbing 
the roots Of the plants, which are immediately 
set in the bed, or row, where they aro wanted to 
grow. 
THE DISTANCE APART TO GROW THEM. 
Rome varieties will produce good crops in mat¬ 
ted bods or rows, and others require to bo grown 
further apart. If we desire to produce the larg¬ 
est crop and largest berries of any variety, tho 
plants should be grown in stools or hills, about 
a foot apart—that, is, a foot of space between 
them when fruiting. This will require tho plants 
to be set at. least. 15 Inches apart. This method 
produces tlie best yield for plants and the best 
sized berries, but, not always the greatest num¬ 
ber of quarts. For garden culture, thero is no 
better way than to set the plants ia rows two aud 
a half feet apart, and 15 inches apart in tlie rows. 
Tho rows may ho allowed to thicken up with 
runners, so as to bo what is called “matted 
rows,” leaving only Just room enough between 
them to pick the fruit, easily, or tlie plants may 
bo kept, separate, as the owner finds the most 
profitable. 
FERTILIZERS. 
When ono has well-rotted stable dung, from 
cows mostly, bo nood look no further for marmro 
for strawberries; and it should be applied abun¬ 
dantly, in order to product very largo crops. 
Frequently, very line varieties of strawberry 
plants arc purchased, and then no care is taken 
in their cultivation, no manure applied, the weeds 
are allowed to smother the plants, and they aro 
left to grow in a mass of matted beds or rows ; 
and if they do not yield the same crops and the 
same-sized berries Unit, the nurseryman grows 
who sells the plants, ho and his plants aro de¬ 
nounced as humbugs. No one need expect to 
produce good fruit of any kind without good cul¬ 
tivation, and on most soils there must bo an ap¬ 
plication of fertilizers. Ashes leached or un¬ 
leached—and all the commercial fertilizers that 
contain potash, aro good for strawberries. The 
following is highly recommended:—One part ni¬ 
trate of potash (saltpeter); one do. Glauber 
salts ; one do, Bol-soda. 
These are dissolved in a barrel of water, and 
the water is applied to the plants once a week in 
the spring, till tho fruit sets. A barrel of water 
containing one pound of oaeh of the above, is 
sufficient for ten or twelve hundred square feet 
of plantH. 
RENEWING PLANTATIONS. 
Strawberry plants bear only two good crops 
and then others should tako their places, or new 
plantations be made. If one has plants (this 
season’s runners) that aro now well rooted, it 
