1898 
THE RURAL 
NEW-YORKER. 
359 
Failure of Clematis. 
./. /{., Passaic County, N. ,/. I have planted 
Clematis several years In succession, close up 
against my house, but it always makes a feeble 
growth, dying out by the following year. What 
is the trouble ? 
Anh.—J. R. does not give sufficient 
details, either as to variety or treatment, 
to provide material for a satisfactory 
answer. It is most probable, however, 
that the trouble lies in the manner of 
planting. When Clematis or other 
species are planted close to the house, 
the fact that the earth there is sterile 
subsoil, thrown around the walls when 
filling in, and often further injured by 
bits of brieks and other rubbish, is over¬ 
looked. As a rule, the earth close to the 
house is quite unfitted for planting, and 
other provision should he made. Dig 
out a trench 2% feet wide and the same 
depth ; put some sods in the bottom, and 
then fill up with good soil. If the Clem¬ 
atis he planted in this, there is no reason 
why it should not take hold well. A 
good many varieties of Clematis have 
suffered from fungous disease of late 
years, the trouble beginning in the 
crown of the plant, and extending down 
into the roots. Occasionally, a plant 
will appear to wilt suddenly from this 
cause. Copper solutions are suggested 
as a remedy, but the disease does not 
seem to be very successfully controlled 
so far. Large-flowered varieties seem 
more subject to the attaeksof this trouble 
than those with small flowers, like Panic- 
ulata or Virginiana. 
Heating; Bermuda Lilies; Carnations. 
II. L. li. , Pittsjleld, N. II. I. I have a green¬ 
house containing nearly 800 square feet of glass; 
It Is warmed by over 4f>0 feet of three-inch pipe, 
outside measure. At what temperature can I 
keep the house when it is zero outside? 2. What 
is the best temperature to keep Bermuda lilies 
for forcing for Easter ? 3. What is the best tem¬ 
perature for blooming carnations In Winter? 
A ns. —1. The theory of greenhouse 
heating is to allow one square foot of 
heating surface to each three feet of 
glass area. If the pipe in H. L. H.’s 
house is really three-inch pipe, and there 
are 450 feet of it properly laid and con¬ 
nected to an efficient boiler, there should 
be no difficulty in maintaining a tem¬ 
perature of 60 to 65 degrees in zero 
weather, and this temperature would be 
ample for all ordinary purposes. This 
provision as to the size of pipe is made 
because what is known as three-inch 
pipe measures three inches inside, and 
is fully inches outside, while two- 
inch pipe measures 2]4 inches outside. 
This theoretical rule is a safe one under 
ordinary conditions, though we would 
not use quite as much heating surface in 
a milder latitude than New Hampshire, 
especially when using hot water under 
pressure. 
2. In flowering Kermuda lilies, the 
temperature is varied according to the 
time the blooms are wanted. When 
first potted, they are put in a frame, 
covered with a mulch, and kept there 
until frost. When first brought inside, a 
night temperature of 40 to 45 degrees, 
MOTHERS.—Be sure to use “Mrs. Wins¬ 
low’s Soothing Syrup” for your children 
while Teething. It is the Best.— Adn. 
with plenty of air during the day, is 
sufficient. Forcing in the earlier stages 
of growth is injurious, and likely to re¬ 
sult in a “blind” shoot. Later, the 
plants may be moved into a temperature 
of 60 or 65 degrees, which is best as 
flowering approaches. If the weather 
is dull, the temperature may run up to 
70 degrees, if necessary, so long as the 
plant is fairly advanced toward flower¬ 
ing. When the buds are opening, it is 
an advantage to move the plants to a 
lower temperature, say 50 degrees ; the 
result is a well-hardened plant, with 
firm flowers which will bear moving 
about. 
3. The best average night temperature 
for carnations grown for flowering is 50 
to 55 degrees, hut it varies a little with 
different varieties. A high temperature 
is not in accord with the habits of the 
carnation, and may not be persisted in 
without injury. With a night tempera¬ 
ture of 40 to 45 degrees, the plants will 
be strong and vigorous, and produce fine 
flowers, but will bloom very little until 
toward (Spring, when the flowers do not 
realize a high price. 
Seasonable Botes. 
All the remaining flower seeds may 
now he sown in the open air, where they 
are to remain permanently, the plants 
being thinned out to a proper distance. 
It is also wise to have some seedlings 
started in a reserve bed, so that there 
will be material for filling up gaps. 
I’lanting-out time is here, hut it must 
not be supposed that all bedding plants 
may he put out just as soon as warm 
weather comes. It is quite safe, how¬ 
ever, to plant Geraniums by May 20, 
and all the plants that are not injured 
by a touch of frost may be put out a 
week earlier. This would include pinks, 
Dusty-miller, Verbenas, Asters, I’hlox, 
Lavender cotton (Santolina), Lobelias, 
Sweet Alyssum, Lemon Verbenas, etc. 
Balsams or Lady’s-slippers should not 
go out until about dune 1. All the 
plants that would he injured by a little 
frost should not be put out until the first 
week in June. This would include 
Gannas, Caladiums, Coleus, and other 
subtropical plants. 
There is some art even in planting a 
red Geranium properly. A good many 
people make a hole with the trowel, put 
the plant in without any firming, be¬ 
yond smoothing off the surface, and 
then water the entire bed. This rarely 
acts well, for the water washes the sur¬ 
face soil about, without really soaking 
the ball of earth inclosing the roots. If 
the sun is shining, the surface immedi¬ 
ately hakes hard, and the last stage of 
that plant is worse than the first. The 
right plan is to set the plant, then water 
it individually, thus causing the earth 
to settle a little, and then to fill up 
the surface with a little more earth. By 
doing this, the roots are thoroughly 
moistened, and the earth added at the 
top acts as a mulch to prevent baking. 
Considering the variety of bedding 
plants brought out each year, it is sur¬ 
prising how we cling to our old favor¬ 
ites. It would he difficult to find any 
garden now without a bed of the newer 
Gannas, but apart from these, we are 
prone to indulge in similar plants year 
after year. 'Phis is especially the case 
in hanging baskets and veranda boxes. 
Hanging baskets are still popular, though 
modern architecture hardly affords so 
good a place for them as the old-fashioned 
piazzas. These baskets are not without 
some disadvantages; they are difiicult 
to water adequately, and are often most 
inconveniently heavy. This is particu¬ 
larly true of the large earthen or rustic 
baskets often seen. One of the best 
hanging baskets, both for convenience 
and suitability, is made of wire, lined 
with green moss, before flic soil is put 
in. The moss holds the soil in, and af¬ 
fords additional feeding space for the 
roots. The soil in a hanging-basket 
should always be rich ; in addition to 
well-rotted manure, hone dust will be 
desirable. The plants must be put in 
firmly, and the surface of the soil covered 
with moss. This prevents the earth 
from washing off when the basket is 
watered, often a very troublesome fea¬ 
ture, and it also prevents the roots from 
drying out badly. The basket will need 
a good soaking every day in Summer; it 
is often a good plan to stand the basket 
in a vessel containing a few inches of 
water, and thus allow it to soak up all 
the moisture needed, rather than to trust 
to overhead watering. 
What are the most suitable plants for 
a hanging basket? That must depend 
entirely upon personal taste. Geran¬ 
iums and Petunias are among the most 
satisfactory common plants we can use 
for such a purpose ; any of the common 
vines, such as German ivy, Kenilworth 
ivy (neither of which is really an ivy), 
money vine, single Petunias, Ivy Geran¬ 
iums, etc., will droop over the edge. A 
good effect is often secured where the 
entire basket is filled with one variety 
of plant; for example, a Begonia of 
drooping habit, half-dwarf nasturtiums, 
or Petunias. In a shady situation, a 
basket filled with Begonia Rex is very 
handsome; another very suitable plant 
for such a situation is the Boston fern. 
The little Lobelia, now abundantly cov¬ 
ered with its bright blue flowers, would 
seem very suitable for this purpose, hut 
it doesn’t last, and would better be 
avoided. 
Among early shrubs, Golden hell 
(Forsythia) and Star Magnolia are now 
past. The prettiest shrub we had in 
bloom during the last week in April was 
the dwarf Double-flowered Almond, its 
branches looking like wreaths of minia¬ 
ture pink roses. There is a white form, 
as well as the pink. This is a very satis¬ 
factory shrub, hardy, inexpensive, and 
requiring little care. The .Japan quinces, 
red, pink and white-flowered, have been 
very fine this year, though we have 
noted several cases where hedges of 
these plants have been trimmed off early 
this Spring, thus cutting away many 
flower buds. The Japan quince, makes 
a very ornamental hedge, and is easily 
kept in shape. The little white Dcutzia 
gracilis, one of the most graceful and 
deserving of shrubs, follows the Japan 
quinces very closely, and never fails to 
give a sheet of white blooms. 
About the third week in May is a good 
time to sow Chinese primroses, if some 
are wanted in bloom by November. It 
is, also, a good plan to sow a few more 
Asters for Autumn blooming. 
lightens 
the 
load— 
shortens 
the 
Crease 
road 
Makes the wagon pull easier, 
helps the team. Saves wear 
^ and expense. ,Sold 
everywhere. ^ 
FRAZER CREASE 
BEST IN THE WORLD. 
Its wearing qualltloH are unsurpassed, actually 
outlasting throe boxes of any other brand. Not 
affected by heat. IW~ GET THE GENUINE. 
FOIt SAJiK BY OK A I,KltS GENERALLY. 
Something 
entirely 
new. 
A better Scale tor freight paid 
less money than has 
ever been offered. 
Address, 
Jones of Binghamton, 
Binghamton, N. V. 
MODERN 
STOVE POLISH 
Gives a quick polish 
without dirt. 
J.L.Prescott& Co. New York 
How's Your 
__ Spring. 
M 1 ^ M Arol<l rnlntAkoH and noouro the 
mm mmmMW ^ very boat thing of the lrind made. 
C/so Sykes “Old Style'' 
It III mado In a var- IRON ROOFINO. 
loty of styles,!* easily put on and lx longllvcd and 
handsome. Falling Hpurkxcau’t fire It, hallcan’t break 
It and the wind can’t blow It off. Roofs that have been 
on 26 years are good yet. Send for catalogue and prices. 
Sykes Iron sad Steel Roofing Co. Niles, 0. and Chicago, 111. 
SOoCheaperthan Paint 
Cheaper to buy and apply; cheaper llrst and last; 
preserve the wood and hold their colors. Send for 
samples and circulars of 
CABOT’S CREOSOTE SHINGLE STAINS 
SAMUEL CABOT, HI KilbySt., Boston, Miihh. 
ROOFINGS AND ROOF COATINGS. 
Carey’s Cement Hooting. Swan's Standard Keeling, 
and ‘•Noponsot ’’ Hod and Hlack Hope Fabric; all at 
manufacturers’ prices. Bend for samples. 
JAMES H. CAHK, Colchester, Conn. 
I 
MACHINES IN ONE 
A RIVETER PUNCH AND LOOP MAKER. 
Wanted. 
Repair 
Your 
Broken 
Harness 
At 
Home. 
THE... 
Is the only machine riveting Keeners and Coops. 
HARTMAN MFC. CO. Box 1 9 
or Itoom TO, *T7 Broadway .New York. fill wood City P* 
GOSHEN 
LOW WAGON 
WHEELS 
Compoaedof layer upon 
layer of Inch kiln dried 
Indiana’WhiteOak.Sco 
tho wedge-shaped sec¬ 
tions; grain runs from 
hub to tire.Look at tho 
rivets that hold layers 
together.W heels IK to30 
In.; tire 3^ toli-ln.; lit 
any wagon. Buy a set & 
httvotwo wagons—high 
one and low one. Fully 
guaranteed. Circulars 
and price list free. 
Kelly F’ndrv&Mch.Co. 
PurlSt. OOSHEN, IND. 
Olil Wagons 
Wo make Steel Wheels to fit any 
size and width tire. Staggard and 
Straight Spoke, 
out. We also 
Handy Wagons. 
Will not rot or dry 
manufacture Steel 
Catalogue free. 
Havana Metal Wheal Co., Havana, III. 
WHEELS 
MAKE A OOOD WACON. 
Unless a wagon has good wheels It la 
useless. r| CPTRlP STEEL 
THE tLtblnlO WHEELS 
are gooil wheels ami they make a wagon 
last Indefinitely. They are made high or 
low, any width of tiro, to lit any skein. 
They enn’t get loose, rotor lircuk 
down. They lust ul waya-t atalogfreo. 
Electric Wheel Co., Box 88, Quincy, Ills. 
WHAT DO YOU WANT? 
If It’s Boggles, Harness, Noddles, Bicycles, Hewing 
Mnelilncs, Feed Cookers, t lder Presses. N e 111 V 
Pumps, Poultry Supplies or nny- 
Y01IR WANldgS^n* 1 d *' 
Jh 
thing else, we 
root from tho fac- 
what It Is, or where 
supply It anti nave 
Write for 
KNOWN 
tory. No matter 
_ it Is made, we can 
you ntoney too. Try us. 
for our Illustrated catalogue, circulars, etc. 
Colony, 
Illinois. 
Frauk B. Barkley Mfg. Co. 
from*' FACTORY. 
Top buggies, road wagons, spring 
wagons, surreys and business wag¬ 
ons, bicycles and harness. No mid¬ 
dle men. No agents. A small per 
cent, of profit above actual cost of 
buildiug. 25 to 40 per cent, helow 
retail prices. All freight prepaid. 
tivtrialii —'"Gold Coin’’ Top Baggy 
and “Parlor Oity" Bicycle. Oatalogae free. 
BINGHAMTON OAUIUAOK A) CYCLE CO, 
iioxG, Binghamton, N. Y. 
ce $44. 
Buggies, Phaetons, Surreys, Traps, Harness 
Bay direct from factory at Wholesale Prices. 30 per cent saved. 
Guaranteed for two years. Write to-day for new beautifully lllus- 
tratedCatalogue, send 8 cents In stamps. Highest awards given us at i 
World’s Fair, Atlanta Exposition, Nashville Centennial Exposition. 1 
Alliance Carriage Co. 2JI0 E. Court St. Cincinnati, 0. 
Price $IV 
