THE RURAL MEW-YORKER. 
MARCH <8 
which to grow. In the hot-beds or in large boxes, 
four inches should divide them each way. In 
the house, small llower-pots may be used, one 
plant being set in each pot. The expense is 
nothing, and the enhanced eatliness of the crop 
of fruit secured, will compensate baudsomely 
the care required. In the hot-beds, if consider¬ 
able growth has been obtained before it is warm 
enough to transplant into open air, additional 
epaoe should separate them : say eight inches. 
Transplanting into the garden should be delayed 
until all danger of cold, wet weather and frost is 
paBt. The plants will fruit sooner if nursed 
under glass until the first blossoms appear. I 
have profited by keeping them thus protected 
until first fruit had developed. After the last 
transplanting in the hot-beds, leaving the plants 
eight inches apart, they require but little atten¬ 
tion. The glass may be removed when the 
temperature of the atmosphere will permit and 
only replaced when the nights are cold, or the 
weather cold and wet. In severe weather addi¬ 
tional protection should be afforded by covering 
the glass with boards, cloth, straw or hay. I he 
great point of success in cultivating the To¬ 
mato is in keeping it from the effeota of frost 
and cold, wet weather. 
THE SOIL 
best suited for the Tomato is a dark, warm, sandy 
loam If it is rich from having been fertilized 
tne previous year, a light application of ashes or 
guano will stimulate a quick growth. If the 
land is poor, apply rotten s'able manure heavily. 
HOW CULTIVATED. 
Having been properly prepared, Hie land to lie 
planted should be laid off in squares, four by 
four or four by six feet. I prefer the latter di¬ 
mensions. At the corners of the squares, or 
where the lines intersect, dig out a hole suffi¬ 
ciently large to admit the plant with the soil 
clinging to the root. From their winter resi¬ 
dences transplant the vines into these holes: 
rake the surrounding soil and compress it firmly 
about them with the foot, and they are estab¬ 
lished in their summer quarters. 
The spice between the rows, six feet apart, 
may he planted with some vegetable of short 
duration, such as peas, beans, radish, lettuce, 
etc. It is necessary that the vines, when well 
Btarted to growing, should be tied up to stakes, 
some throe feet high, as when allowed to fall i 
upon the ground, any part in contact with the | 
soil will take root, thus diminishing productive¬ 
ness. 
To secure a well-flavored Tomato, the fruit 
should be protected from exposure to the sun. 
This can he accomplished by clipping the ex¬ 
tremities of the branches. If allowed to grow 
very long, the vines shed their lower leaves 
leaving the lower fruit exposed. The clipping 
invigorates the viue and produces heavier fruit¬ 
age as well as fuller foliage to pi'otect the fruit. 
VARIETIES. 
My experience has proven the Trophy supe¬ 
rior to all other varieties for combination of 
the qualities desirable for family use. It is 
large, smooth and well flavored. Ir there is an 
objection to be urged againBt it, it is that it does 
not ripen so well at the stem as some others. But 
when size is not sought after, and curliness of 
maturity is the chief desideratum, Hathaway s 
Excelsior is the most desirable variety. It is a 
medium-si zed, smooth, red Tomato, of excellent 
flavor, and ripens fully a week earlier than any 
other. Next in earlineas, (aud it is a good To¬ 
mato too), is the familiar Early Smooth Red. 
ROT 
is caused by long spells of warm, wet weather, 
and also by heavy dews, succeeded by warm, 
sunny days. It will not occur from the latter 
cause, however, when there is a free circulation 
of ail- among the vines. To secure this, the 
vines should not be crowded too near together, 
nor should weeds be allowed to grow about 
them. The fruit affected with rot should be 
removed from the vines, as worms sometimes 
infest it, aud if not removed, the worms will 
soon find their way into and destroy the sound 
fruit. 
The Tomato has another enemy in the worm. 
There are two kinds which are destructive. One 
is essentially, Inhabit, like the tobacco worm, and 
can easily he detected and destroyed. The other 
cuts its way into the green fruit, burrowing 
therein until tho fruit is decayed, when it moves 
on to another. But where vines are properly 
raised aud trained from the ground, there is lit¬ 
tle damage to he apprehended. 
Atlanta, Ga. 
--- 
BRUSSELS SPROUTS. 
Wht is this deliciuus vegetable bo little 
known ? Its cultivation is easy, the seed which 
must be of a good strain, should be Bown in the 
spring, in the same maimer aud lime as for win¬ 
ter cabbage. "When ibe plants are of sufficient 
size, ti ansplant to shout a foot apart eacu way. 
luoidiuaiv seasons they niuy be Uad for the 
table from first of October to Christmas. Tho 
plant la quite hardy, and lta numerous Bin.il 
nearls become very tender when touched by 
frod. Bail and serve as you would cauliflower. 
X. 
WATERING PLANTS IN POTS. 
No. It. 
WILLIAM FALCONER. 
Most plants require more water in spring and 
summer than they do in winter ; but mauy want 
water in winter and none in summer ; mhers, 
water in summer and none in winter ; aud iu 
the case of several others, the water supply 
should be guided by the conditions of growth. 
But he it summer or winter, or under natural or 
artificial conditions, plants usually require the 
moat water when they are iu active growth. 
True, the woods and fields are sometimes inun¬ 
dated in winter when plant-life is dormant, aud 
often comparatively dry in early summer when 
vegetation is busiest, iu which caaes the flood 
may he harmless on account of its low tempera¬ 
ture, perhaps in some cases beneficial in pro¬ 
longing the season of “ rest,' but at auy rate. I’d 
prefer unflooded land as productive of the hap¬ 
piest results. 
Many plants, require to be kept moist all the 
year round, as Palms. Camellias, Azaleas, India- 
rubber trees, Myrtles, Mahernias, Dracaenas, 
Daphnes, Acacias, Heaths, Epacrises. Jerusalem 
Cherries, aud evergreen, herbaceous and shrub¬ 
by plants generally. But even these require 
less water when they have completed tteir 
growth than wheu they are growing or flowering. 
Calceolarias, Ciuerarias, Slevias, Chinese Prim¬ 
roses, Chrysanthemums, Carnations, aud such 
like plants, whether treated as annual, biennial, 
or perennial, require plenty of water at all times 
while they remain iu pnta. The Bame may be 
said of Cyclamens, and Calla Lillies, though 
many good grower* lay the pots on their sides to 
dry these off after they have done blooming. 
GROW IN SUVIMER AND REST IN WINTER. 
Acbimenes, Gloxinias, tuberous-rooted Be¬ 
gonias, Glotiosas, some Gesneras, Cissns dis¬ 
color, AmorpbophaUus Rivkri, spotted-leaved 
Caladiums, and the like, don’t require a drop of 
water for three or four mouths during the win¬ 
ter time, but most of them drink heartily while 
growing. I may also say that the finest Lilium 
speoiosums I ever saw grown were putted in 
November, kept dry in a cool green-house till 
their shoots peeped above soil in March, when 
just a little water was given near the edge of the 
pot, gradually increasing it as growth proceeded, 
till heavy libations were applied. This proves that 
though tho.-e lily bulbs are wintered iu moist earth 
in tho garden, in pot culture they should be kept 
dry, aud so it is with many other bulbs. Fuch¬ 
sias, Lemou-scented Verheuas, Coral Plants, 
Crape Myrtles, Lantanas, aud several other 
shrubby plants if not young and sappy, win¬ 
ter quite well when kept dry aud cool—say iri 
the cellar, shed, under the green-house stage or 
iu auy other safe ont-i f-tlio-way place. Poin- 
settias require tin same treatment for two or 
three mouths after they have done bloomiug ; 
only they require warmer quarters, say 45°. 
Arauja, climbing Clerudendrons, Allamandas, 
.Stigmatopbyllums and some other hot-house 
climbers start to grow more vigorously iu spring, 
and blossom more concentrated and lavishly if 
subjected to a long winter’s drouth. 
GROW IN WINTER, REST IN SUMMER. 
By September Oxalises are transposed from 
the bureau drawer to fiower-pots ; the Ele- 
phants-foot Creeper sends forth a shoot; “ Suii 
lax” runs, Troprealnm trio lorntn shows its 
stringy vines, the Canary Islands Bell-flower (Ca- 
tianua oatnpanulata) begins to grow, and a host 
of Cape bulbs, as Ltchenahas, Ixias, Bahians, 
and the like are buried, for a New Year to Easter 
show. During the summer time these receive 
no water, but itttle after they are potted till roots 
are forming, then gradually more, till the flow¬ 
ers are gone and the foliage turns seedy, when 
water is gradually withhold and ultimately 
stopped. 
BEDDING PLANTS. 
Bedding plants as cuttings in store pots or 
boxes, require very little water in winter, only 
enough to keep them from wilting, but towards 
March, wheu growth begins and demands for 
food increase, more watbr should he given in 
proportion ; but always bear in mind mat too 
little is better thau too much. The variega¬ 
ted Mesemhryauthemum, Othouua, blue leaved 
Kleinia don’t require a drop of water from Christ¬ 
mas till Easter unless good growing condit.ons 
are theirs. Coleuses, Achyrauthusos, and Alter- 
nautheras, winter bttter and endure in safety a 
much lower temperature if kept very dry than 
moderately moist. Of course, iu warm green¬ 
houses a little water may ho beneficial through 
the winter mouths, hut in other cases drouth is 
preferable. From the middle of March onwards 
when growth is desirable, more water is neces¬ 
sary as it also is in the case of newly potted 
plants, 
SEEDS. 
Seeds should be sown in moist earth and care 
taken to prevent it from drying rapidly. This is 
done by keeping the pots in shady places, cov¬ 
ering them over with shaded glass, paper, or 
some damp moss or grass, till germination ap¬ 
pears. After this, gentle sprinkling* are prefera¬ 
ble to sudden splashes, aud to prevent a too 
frequent repetition of the operation, if the pots 
be stood in saucers, and thus be fed underneath 
instead of above, the lives of mauy delicate seed¬ 
lings will be saved. Young seedliuga should 
never get dry, nor should they be kept sodden. 
CACTUSES AND OTHER SUCCULENTS. 
Moat of these cau bo wintered iu dry airy cel¬ 
lars or rooms, providing they be kept rigidly 
dry, but. like other plants, while they are grow¬ 
ing they like plenty water. Capo of Good Hope 
specie*, a* thoso of Aloes, Sempervivums, and 
Crassulas, like a little water in winter if their 
quarters be good, as many of them bloom at that 
season. Unless to remove dirt or vermin, 
syringing doe* them little if any good, and in the 
case of densely hairy or spiney kinds, as mauy 
Mamillarias,Ceren*es, and Eobiuoeactusea, bhow- 
erings overhead, iu winter whatever, are quite 
hurtful. Of course there are exceptions iu the 
case of young stock or that in exceptional quar¬ 
ters. A humid, muggy atmosphere is killiug 
to Cacti. Cotyledon farinosa, pulverutenta, aud 
other powdery-leaved kinds should not be wetted 
overhead, neither should Kleinia tomentosa nor 
others of that class. 
FERNS. 
Filmy ferns require a close, damp atmosphere 
and daily dewings overhead, summer and wiu- 
ter. Some growers say—keep them in a satura¬ 
ted atmosphere but don’t wet the leaves ; well, 
that is gospel for winter iu England, but I must 
see, iu results, the superiority of such doctrine 
before I’ll adopt it in America. All fetus are 
very thirsty while growing, and some Pterises, 
Aspleniums, Dtcksouias, Cyatheas, Polypodys, 
Toleas, Woodvardias, and the like, euj iy a 
shower-bath on summer afternoons. M dden- 
hair (Adiautum) Gold and Bilver Ferns 
( Gytunograu mas, Cheilantbmos and Nutb- 
och seuas), aud a few other powdery or downy 
ferns are much more injured thau benefited 
by wetting their leaves. Many ferns while 
at rest suffer a deal of drouth with im¬ 
punity: indeed, Adiantums, Pterises, Onyobi- 
ums, and some others may be cut over in the fall 
and stood on a damp floor, iu a cool green-liouso 
wnhout getting a drop of water till February, 
md they will rise in March and April clean aud 
bright. Too much drouth would kill them or 
iutpaiably weaken them. Wo have some very 
beautifulPmlloas from California, and which are 
found in dry. rocky or sandy placeB ; indeed, cot- 
leotors of them have assured me that they un¬ 
dergo severe drouths for a considerable period, 
but as put plants they are about the moot par¬ 
ticular genus I know of as regards moisture; 
subject them to half the drouth an Adiautum 
oould hear and they die outright. 
EULBS FOR THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
W. 0. L. DREW. 
IEPHYRAN1HES. 
These are handsome little bulbous plants 
nearly related to the queenly Amaryllis. They 
were formerly, for many years, classed under 
that genus, and are even now frequently sold as 
a species of Amaryllis under the pseudjtnyn of 
of A. Atitmasco. Ttiey are now recognized as a 
distinot. genus by tbe best botanical authorities. 
The Zephyranthes arc alike valuable for pot 
and border culture. Fur pot culture they are par¬ 
ticularly valuable as they flower, if properly 
treated, in from twenty to thirty days after 
plautiug. For this kind of culture, tho bulbs 
may be planted at any time during the winter, iu 
Bix-mob pots tilled with a moderately rich, light 
loam, four bulbs in each pot. Plant the bulb so 
that at least one-third or its length will be above 
the siu-face of the soil; water aud set in a warm, 
dark closet for seven or eight days ; then re¬ 
move to the window or green-house, setting the 
pot as close as possible to the glass. 
For border culture, keep the bulb dry until 
about the first of May ; then plant iu light, rich 
soil, being careful not to entirely cover the neck 
of the bulb. Plant the bulbs in clumps of three 
each for a good disp'ay. Set in this way, the 
bulos will fiower three or four times during the 
summer. 
The fiowers are produced on foot stalks about 
leu inches high, aud are finely adapted for bou¬ 
quet making. They are like immature Lilies in 
shape aud are very beautiful. There are sovcral 
varieties in cultivation, all desirable. Z. Candida 
is a very hardy variety, in many localities en¬ 
during the wiuter iu the open ground ; the flow¬ 
ers are snowy white. 
Z. rosea is a very pretty plaut with rose-colored 
flowers, frequently with longitudinal variegations 
of white ; this variety is often sold as Fairy Lily. 
Z. Atamasco is a while variety, the flowers hav¬ 
ing a pearly appearance. Z. Vilmoriensis is a 
comparatively new variety, large white blooms. 
Z. otiloroleuea has a pretty orange yellow flower 
and is unique. 
SCHII0STYL1S. 
This is a very neat plant of recent introduc¬ 
tion. As yet it is rather Bcarce, and in view of 
the number of good thiugB which have been 
neglected by amateurs, it is not likely that it 
will ever be very extensively cultivated. The 
flowers are very pretty and resemble somewhat 
those of the Ixia, tbe bulb requiring similar 
treatment. The flowers which are borne in long 
spikes, are of a velvety texture, the color being a 
bright scarlet crimson, much darker towards the 
center of the flower. I am acquainted with only 
one variety, S. gigantea. It is well worth culti¬ 
vating. 
EXCHANGE. 
Another season of buds and flowers will soon 
he here, and often daring the long winter days 
have I formed plans for my flower garden aud 
seen, in imagination, the bright floral treasures 
I hoped to cultivate the coming season. I was 
very successful with my exchange last spring. I 
received much that was valuable ; aud 0 ! tbe 
interesting letters from Rural friends have been 
like so many pleasant conversations that will 
long bold a bright place in my memory. And 
you, dear Rural, I sincerely thank yon. Long 
may you live, and carry your pure, elevating in¬ 
fluence to every fireside throughout our land, 
and gladden tbe hearts of many thousands. 
I will give a list of the different varieties of seed 
I have for exchangeAquilegia. double, blue ; 
Digitalis, new spotted; Fenzlia dianthitlora; 
| Pansies, best varieties mixed ; Phlox Drummou- 
dli; Poppies, double, mixed colors; SaJpiglos- 
sis, scarlet finely spotted ; Sedttm Aizuon, yel¬ 
low flowered; Sweet Williams, mixed; Laven¬ 
der. Iu exchange, I should like to get any of 
the following Heeds or plants ;—Dairies (double), 
Gypsophila, Poutstemou, Statiee, Pampas Grass, 
Wistaria (plants), aud Holly (the variety that 
bears tho berries used for wiuter trimmings-) To 
those wishing a few flower seeds and having 
nothing to send iu return, if they wilt send me a 
stamped ami addressed envelope, I will forward 
them seed by retom of mail. Mrs. C. Cox. 
North Bass Island, Ottawa Co., O. 
'gjisccllancous. 
“THE SNOW—THE BEAUTIFUL SNOW.” 
s. B. PECK. 
Tue lumberman's winter lias just begun. 
Thus far, there has been no suow to help him. 
He has waited with the best grace he could, till 
patieuce was nearly exhausted aud hofio almost 
abandoned. He could have watered his roads 
and trusted to “ Jack Frost” to pave them with 
ice; but the thermometer, instead of favoring 
this process, has. except for a very few days, 
persisted iu staying above 32° since the begin¬ 
ning of the old-fashioned wiuter. 
Nuw the prospect brightens. Mercury, like 
Lucibr, has fallen, and down comes the feathery 
suow, lubricating the roads, lying, like a fallen 
tree, where it falls-for no winds penetrate the 
forests; the roads are broken a* the snow rail* ; 
the wet places and the frozen lakes to bo crossed 
are tramped to promote congelation, till the 
whole path becomes a solid bridge. " Iben 
comes the tug of war." The woods swarm with 
men, horses, and oxen, all ready aud oager for 
the fight. Tne blows of tho sturdy nxrnen echo 
from over tlm hill; the soft whispering of tho 
saw is heard; near by the sealer’s hammer whack* 
the owr er’s mark into tho log’s end, and echo 
says. "Whack!” Now tho monarch pine of a 
century comes roaring as he brashes his fellow*, 
and oracklir g, crashing thundering, plunge* 
down, shaking the earth. No sooner is he pros¬ 
trate thau axes aud saw* are upon him, ^tup¬ 
ping him of his branches and cutting him into 
huge pieces, ready for his over-laud and water 
journey to market. Bashes crackle under the 
tread of teams, ohaius rattle, caut-hooks grap¬ 
ple, and off goes a burly log over hummock*, 
bushes and fallen tree*, propelled by the sturdy 
and patient oxen, and is laid snugly beside its 
fellows upon two parallel skids, ready for then 
transit by the more supple horse teams. Men 
*• jump at the conclusions,” aud the meviia >« 
o bobs" are loaded with a number and welg it 
that would make auy one but a logger stat e; 
but. the trained horses ttinob not, aud soon con¬ 
vey the monstrous load beyond our sight. 
Anon comes a booming sound, like that of < 
taut cannon, and we know that tne logs arc turn 
hied against their fellows, down the river’s bank. 
And so this round Of motion, muscle aud Bound 
goes on. The blue jay screams at it, the P*>' 
tndge retreats whirring to the thicket, the < <- 1 ‘ 
with sprightly bounds, seeks the swamps; 1,1 
men and teams “ pursue the even tenor of * • 
way" till darkness drives them to their rude, 
hospitable shelter. . 
Tho fiora of America—and perhaps of 
world— pteseuls no sight more grand and nug 
H.ficant thau tho unbroken pine forests. I°" 
