9 
<75 
give any water, but instead keep all as dry as 
possible. In one end of the pit we introduced a 
few dry leaves among the plants at storing time, 
as additional protection, but with indistinguish¬ 
able results as regards good or evil. 
After storing we keep the pit uncovered day 
and night in mild weather, tilt up the sashes in 
mild but wet weather, and even on fine frosty 
days we tilt up a little at noon. During intense 
frosty weather we keep the pit rather close, merely 
sliding down tho shutters a few inches at noon, 
and in tho case of heavy snows or storms 
wo leave all covered up for a few days. But I 
make it a point to omit no feasible opportunity 
of ventilating or at least light-giving, and of 
many hundreds of plants thus cared for last 
winter, not one perished. 
Among tho subjects thus winterod, were Fig 
trees, Oleanders, fragrant and European Olive 
trees, Camellias, Conifers, as Araucarias, Cryp- 
tomerias, Cnuninghamias, Thujas, Thujopsis ( 
Cedrus Deodara and Atlantica, Cuprossus Law- 
soniana and others; a few Pi rinses aud Abies, 
Liboccdrus, Ac.; English Hollies, Yew trees, 
Bay and Cherry Laurels. Auouba Japonioa, Myr¬ 
tles, Pomegranates. Pittosporum Tobira, Rba- 
phiolepis ovata. Nandina domestic*, Magnolia 
granditiora, Ligustrum Japonieum, many kinds 
of tho plain aud variegated Euonymuses, Ulex 
Eoropwus, Loycestoria formosa, Clerodendron 
festidura, Viburnum Tinus, Draoama Australis, 
Pampas Orass, Arando conspicua aud Dona*, 
Gymnothrix latifolia, Peunisotum longistylura, 
Dianella Tasmauica, Diotes Bioolor. Opbiopogon 
muscari, Tritomas. Chrysanthemums, the more 
tender Rhododendrons, and many more. Besides 
these, are accommodated here Roses, Indian 
Azaloas, and shrubs for forcing, growing in pots, 
which are plunged In coal ashes. These pot 
plants, especially towards spring, requires a good 
watering now and again. 
WINTERING PLANTS IN COLO FRAMES. 
Every farmer knows what a frame is, for there 
we mostly raise our young Melon, early Tomato, 
Celery, Lettuce and Cabbage plants. At any 
rate, frames are oasily made, and no matter 
whether or not wo bave glazed sashes wherewith 
to cover them, wo will not want while wo con 
nail a few old hoards together in the form of 
shutters, but if we have Hashes so much tho bet¬ 
ter. Tn a oomfortablo cold frame, we can have 
English Violets from November till May, aud in 
April and May, what can more lavishly repay 
such a position than a few English Polyanthuses. 
Pansies are here at homo from February till 
June, and the May aud Juno wealthqf Anemones 
is certainly an undeniable ploa for space in the 
frame. Burns' “ weo modest crimson-tipped 
flower”—the Daisy, subsides before our sum¬ 
mer’s sun and winter's storm, but is grateful for 
a damp, shady nook during tho hot mouths and 
a frame pro tool ion in winter, and I am sure no 
Briton will refuso it tho privilege. Wall-flowers 
young Holyhocks, Vurbona venosa, Plumbago 
Larpenta?, and many other low-growing plants, 
too tender to survive our winters out-of-doors, 
should be quartered in cold frames. 
As regards coveriug and ventilating, we treat 
our cold frames precisely as we do our deep pits. 
In the case of some framoB here that contain a 
few unreliably hardy herbaceous plants, we Anal¬ 
ly cover up in December and do not uncover 
again till the end of February, and then only 
gradually. 
MULCHING AS A WINTER PROTECTION. 
Blackborry, Raspberry and Rose bushes, we 
consider hardy, nevertheless we mulch them— 
often root and stem—as a protection from frost. 
Wherever the least doubt exists as regards the 
hardiness of a shrub, vine or herb, it is better 
to apply a mulching than run the risk of losing 
it. A little rough material like marali-hav, 
leaves, rubbish-heap stuff, or littery manure, 
makes good mulching and should be applied 
round the roots of shrubs and vines, bnt not 
packed up against the stems. In the case of 
herbaceous plants, a forkful of mulching placed 
over the crown and roots of each plant, will bo 
of groat benefit. MulchiDg may bo held in 
place by laying sticks or branches or some soil 
over it. 
SCREENS AS A WINTER PROTECTION. 
Fierce winds often do more damage than very 
hard frosts, houco we are sometimes compollod 
to erect close wooden screens to the windward 
side of our trees and shrubs. At Newport and 
along the Atlantic Coast, these cold, fierce windB 
are very prevalent; bnt if wo are to have fine 
shrubs we must supply their wants. Belts of 
trees are about the best windbreaks. 
■--. 
A FEW WORDS ABOUT LILIES. 
EV GEORGE SUCH. 
Most people plant Lilies in the spring, at the 
time when they put out their Verbenas, Gerani¬ 
ums, and other similar bedding stuff ; and for 
this reason the Lilies do not usually give so 
much satisfaction as is expected from them. To 
produce the best results, these bulbs should be 
planted in the autumn, and the sooner after the 
stalk dies down, the better. With this treatment 
they are enabled to make a strong root-growth 
preparatory to sending up their shoots in the 
early spring, whereas the bulbs kept out of 
ground during winter are not only fatigued, as 
tho French express it, by this unnatural condi¬ 
tion of existence, bnt having scarcely time 
enough to make any roots at all before the flower 
stalks appear, almost the entire support of the 
growth must be derived from the already much 
weakened bulbs. 
It is another important point in the growing 
of Lilies, that the use of rank manure should he 
most particularly avoidod, for no doubt that 
thousands of LilioB—especially of Lillian aura - 
turn -are lulled every year in this country by 
being planted in ground too much enriched. 
And many more are killed by being too much 
protected during tho winter. 
In a very cold climate it is unquestionably an 
advantage to throw over tho ground where Lilies 
are planted, a light covering of straw, or some¬ 
thing of that sort, but this is best done after tho 
Boil has beou frozen an inch or two deep. If tho 
soil is heavily mulched in oarly winter, before 
having been frozen, chilling rains are apt to rot 
tho bulbs that a dry, although severe, cold would 
have left entirely unharmed. 
It is not my intention to write a long article 
on the subject of Lilies, but having made those 
few suggestions, I may as well mention somo of 
tho varieties that are the moat desirable for a 
flower-garden of moderate pretensions. 
Chief among those must come tho uoblo Lilium 
aural,uni, or Golden Lily of Japan. The flowers 
of this gorgeouB Lily vary much in their mark¬ 
ings, and as some bloom mneh earlier than oth¬ 
ers, a dozen or two of bulbs will produce a fine 
and varied display during the greater part of the 
summer. Tho only objection to this Lily is, I 
think, itB odor, which is not only too powerful 
but to most persons unpleasant. 
Lilium candidum is tho well-known white Lily 
of gardens. As this dies down in August, it 
should be inovod, if at all, very early in the 
autumn. If planted in the spring, it is suro not 
to flower the Bame soason. 
Lilium exeelsum, known also under sovoral 
other names, is very handsome and interesting. 
Its habit is elegant and the color very distinct, 
being a moBt delicate shade of nankeen. 
The varieties of Lilium. luneifolmm or specio- 
sum, as it is properly named, are all exceedingly 
Line aud doliciouBly fragrant. lane rubtum 
and roseum arc good growers and endure readily 
pretty bad treatment, but L. lanoifoliurn album, 
the white variety, and also L. laru), punelatum, 
are more difficult to keep in good health, and 
sometimes dio outright just about the time they 
Bhould be coming into full flower. Lilium lan- 
cifolium prmor., which is in tho stylo of L. lane, 
alburn, is in every way more desirable than it, 
being of robust constitution and also a better 
white flower both as to form and purity of color. 
Lilium JsdchUtni is a beautiful and extremely 
distinct Lily from Japan. In shape the flower is 
similar to that of the ordinary Tiger Lily, but 
the color is a clear canary yellow, lightly spotted 
with purple maroon. This is scarce, good bulbs 
being worth about a dollar and a half each. 
Lilium longiflorum cannot be considered hardy 
in our part of the country, even though it does 
stand out during a mild winter, or perhaps even 
throughout a severe one, if the ground is well 
covered with snow. However, for pot culture in 
the greenhouse or the conservatory, nothing can 
be finer than this exquisite Inly, with its loug, 
white, bell-shaped flowers, the odor of whioh is 
delightful. 
Lilium tigrinum is the common Tiger Lily—a 
showy old plant, but not at all to be oompared 
to the double-flowered variety, L. tigrinum jlore 
pleno. A few years ago bulbs of this double 
Tiger Lily wero selling at $5.00 each ; but being 
easily propagated, it is now oheap, and should 
have a place of honor in every flower garden. 
Lilium umbdlatum is another cheap and good 
Lily. The flowers are cap-shaped, and tho color 
is dazzling red or orange-red of great brilliancy. 
A mass of these on tho lawn or where well sot off 
by fine, green foliage, is very effective. 
Lilium Jhnnboldlii and L. parddiinum are 
from California. They are perfectly well able to 
endure the cold of our severest winters, making 
a fine, vigorous start in the oarly spring; but 
just about the time they arc coming into flower, 
hot weather comes and blights both foliage and 
opening buds. Last year I resolved never again 
to offer these Californian Lilies for sale in my 
catalogue, owing to the circumstances of their 
being so readily affected by the heat, but this 
summer some few planted in a cool, half-shaded 
place, have grown and flowered tolerably well. 
For this reason I have taken them into favor 
again. 
South Amboy, N. J. 
-- 
ASPARAGUS CULTURE. 
BY W. H. WHITE. 
Few, if any, plants suitable for garden culture 
can be successfully cultivated in a wider range 
of climate and soil than can this palatable, nu¬ 
tritious and healthy vegetable ; neither is there 
any in which so much needless labor, otc., are 
expended, as we often find recommended in its 
culturo. A bed of asparagus once established 
and properly cared for afterwards, will last be¬ 
yond the age of man and bo continuously and 
evenly productive. 
Soil—A loamy soil is host, still almost any 
other soil will answer, where it may he worked 
with plow, spade or hoe. A strong soil will hold 
manure better than a Randy or light ouo, hut 
usually tho sandy ono will produce the earlier 
outtings, other things being equal. Plants may 
ho obtained from sowing the seed or from those 
who grow them for Hale. One-year-old plants 
are preferable to older for making the planta¬ 
tion. To grow plants from seed, it is simply 
necessary to sow in drills, in tho spring similar 
to beets or onions: cultivate well and usually 
they will be largo enough to sot In the fall or 
following spring; in two yours from thal time 
they will stand cutting, somo strong-growing 
roots will answer to cut. from a little sooner. 
Planting—Tho ground for the bed should bo 
well drained and rich, or made so; should be 
well and thoroughly plowed or spaded, to the 
depth of tho blade of a common spado or deeper. 
Laving manure worked throughout its entire 
depth, in liberal quantity. In garden culturo, 1 
would plant in beds four to six feet wide, one 
foot each way ; in Held culture, in rows two 
and one-half feet apart, ono foot in tho row. 
Open trenches with the spade and boo, or plow; 
place tho plants with their roots spread horizon¬ 
tally and cover so that the crown of tho plantH 
will lie beneath four inches of soil, when leveled. 
Cultivate well and thoroughly, nursing any weak- 
growing plants. 
In the fall, after the frosts have out tho plants, 
nut off tho stalks, and jnst bofore the ground 
freezes up, spread a good heavy coat of manure 
over the plants, all the finer part of whioh should 
be worked into the soil in spring before the 
plants start to grow. As soon as tho weeds be- 
giu to Bbow themselves, sow Halt over tho bod ho 
as to look quite white, and afterwards as neces¬ 
sary, to destroy any wood growth. 
Cutting—Very little, if any, cutting should ho 
done until the bed has been sot two years, and 
then the shoots should bo dean out only about 
one inch below the surface ; any knife will an¬ 
swer for cutting, but a sickle-edged one is the 
host; care must bo used in cutting not to injure 
the crowns by running the knife too deep. Cut¬ 
ting should not con tin no too loug, us the roots 
are weakened thereby. 
The Asparagus Beetle is tho most formidable 
enemy tho cultivator has to contend with, and 
this only works iu limited localities; liens and 
chickens, with birds, are most efficacious aids iu 
their destruction. 
Many persons seem to think that old plants 
are best for setting in a now bod, but it is a mis¬ 
taken notion, as asparagus comes only from ono 
common center, and good, strong, one-year-old 
plants produce as soon as old plants, and are 
much easier to plant. Very deep planting places 
the roots away from the influence of the sun’s 
rays, while if tho roots are planted shallow they 
nro started much sooner into growth, which is a 
desirable object. 
lUal Wat*. 
A FARM AND HOME 
OF YOUR OWN » 
NOW IS TIIE TIME TO SECURE IT. 
ONLY FIVE DOLLARS, 
FOR AJNT ACRE 
Of the Best Lund In America. 2,000,000 Acres 
IN EASTERN NEBRASKA, 
Now Foi- Sale. 
Ten Years’ Credit Given, Interest Only 6 pr ct. 
Full Information sent freo. 
Address O. F. DAVIS, 
Lund A*ent U. JP. H. It., Omaha, Nob. 
LANDS FOR SALE. 
960,000 ACRES 
In Southwest Missouri. 
First-claas stock Farms, excellent Agricultural 
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Free Transportation from St. Louis to the lands 
furnished purchasers. For further Information, ad- 
( lre»8 A. L. DHANJS, 
LaudCom’r, St. Louis & San Francisco Uv. Co., 
N. W. cor. 6th and Walnut streets, ,st. Louis, Mo. 
Ho! Farmers for Iowa. 
Send a Postal Card for description and maps of 
1,'ZOO.OOO Acres K. it. lauds for salu on ft. K, 
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and return. Address J. B. < A l.MOl \. Ismd 
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talogae* 
lent free. 
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of V a, y.V. 
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G tENESKE VAlil.K V PA HUM FOR SALE. 
E Homeur the finest residences in the Valley, near 
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TEXAS 
FARMING AND STOCK LANDS. 
The lmmigranUH uuide, free. J)R. 
Ail mi Bkown, 58 Sears Bldg, Boston. 
No uthmi or catarrh hero, ran HR M 
Maps aud catalogues free. | A HI |tl V a 
J. F. MANCHA, 
Dover, Del. 
THE BRADLEY HARVESTER. 
It Win* the Grand Silver Medal of 
tlie Jefferson County Adri¬ 
en I turn I Society. 
Report of Committee on Merits of the Different 
Machines. 
The Committee that was assigned tho duty of 
witnessing the trial of reapers under tho di¬ 
rection of tho Secretary of the Jefferson County 
Agricultural Society, and examining their work¬ 
ings, would report that, pursuant to notice, a 
trial was hold on the 20th day of July, in tho 
city of Watertown, In a field of very stout rye. 
The grain was very long and badly lodged and 
tangled, making it very difficult to cut, and, as 
your Committee believe, impossible for any ma¬ 
chine to lay gavels in good shape to bind. Eight 
machines were entered for trial, and each ma¬ 
chine cut, its way through the tangled mass in 
splendid style, only ono machine being disabled 
by breakage. 
In the trial each machine was required to cut 
throe times around tho field. Tho Walter A. 
Wood cut a double swath around the outside, 
and then com me need the trial. 
Walter A. Wood, Son., out a swath 5 feet and 
6 incheB. 
Tho Buckeye light, 5 feet and 6 inches. 
Bradley American Harvester No. 1 cut 5 feet 
G inches. 
Champion cut 5 feet and G inches. 
William Anson Wood out 5 feet. 
Waller A. Wood, Jr., cut 5 feet. 
Bradley American Harvester No. 2 cut 5 feet 
8 inches, 
Tho Walter A. Wood out its grain well, but 
left its gavels too near the standing grain, as 
also did the William Anson Wood. Tho Bradley 
Nos. 1 aud 2, and also tho Buckeye, cut and laid 
their gavels out of the way. Tho Champion got 
badly taugled and did not work well. 
Ijudor tho circumstances, your Committee felt 
that they could not render a juHt decision as to 
the real morits of the different machines, this 
being a sovere test of their strongth and capacity 
to out lodged grain, and therefore desired a fur¬ 
ther trial, which was called and hold on the 8th 
day of August, upon the farm of It. A L. Chapin, 
in the town of Watertown. 
The grain was a stout, heavy piece of oats, 
standing mostly straight and clean. Tho com¬ 
petitors with their machines, except the Walter 
A. Wood, were on hand ready for the battle. 
Hon. A. C. Middleton, Chairman of the Com¬ 
mittee, not being present, Mr. Fred. McNitt of 
Champion was appointed to fill tho vacancy. 
The grain was cut into plots and each machine 
assigned a plot. Tho Adriancc-Buckoye came 
first to its work, cut its grain well, laid the straw 
straight, but scattered and laid gavels a little 
uneven, and when working automatically with 
every third rake made small gavels and failed to 
carry around corners clear of team. 
Bradley's No. 2 did excellent work, leaving 
gavels good size and very square, and nice for 
binding, with no scattering. 
The Champion and Win. Anson Wood cut their 
grain well, but scattered too much and did not 
lay as smooth gavels as tho othors. 
YOUR COMMITTEE HAVE AWARDED THE 
SILVER M It PA L TO THE BRADLEY AMERI¬ 
CAN HARVESTER NO. 2, AN BRING THE MA¬ 
CHINE BEST ADAPTED TO ITS WORK. 
1st. Being of light draft and light weight and 
its perfect mechanical construction. 
2d. Porfect balance on account of the weights, 
gearing being balanced by the weight, of the 
driver, and the whole resting upon the drive- 
wheel in » direct line of draft. 
3d. Easy tilting device on account of tho ma- 
obine being balanced upon the drive and grain- 
wheel so nicely that the driver in his seat., by the 
inclination of his body, can rook tho table. 
1th. Perfectly controllable rake; either rake 
can bo made to deliver the gavel at any time. 
5th. Rakes can be set to work automatically 
to deliver at every fourth or second and at the 
same time bo under the control of tho driver to 
be carried around the corners clear of team. 
Cth. Patent adjustable track. By tho use of 
this the rakes and reel can be instantly adjust¬ 
ed to meet the various conditions of grain and 
wind. 
7th. Its cutting apparatus and platform and 
finger-bar are very light and strong. 
Nth. The ease with which the table can bo 
raised or lowered ; it requiring no nuts to be re¬ 
moved, it can be done iu a moment. 
The Win. Anson Wood did good work, and we 
think with some slight improvements will be a 
valuable machine. 
The Champion also did good work, seeming to 
work very easy for its team, hut, scattered some. 
All of which is respectfully submitted. 
We also award a bronze medal to each of tho 
following machines for superior work in cutting 
tho ryo :—Adriance-Buckeye. Walter A. Wood, 
Jr., and Wrn. Anson Wood* light. 
O. A. Graves, ) 
F. M. Pakkkr, r Com. 
F. H. McNitt, j 
— Watertown Times of A ug. 13, 1877. 
The Bradley American Harvester is built 
by the Bradley .Ylmniliirliii i:nr Co. of Myrn- 
cuse, N. Y. Branch Ollice, 22 Month Canal 
St., Chicago, III. 
