Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-11-25
ABeautffui Flower Farm.

The following account of Mr.. C. L. Aliens
flower farm, near Queens, Long Island, is given
by the editor of the New York Observer. The
grounds occupy about fifty acres OF fertile
garden soil, very fine and mellow:
At one corner of the farm we found an extern
sive plat OF p4onies, embracing over one hum
dred and fifty varieties, all in full bloom. The
sight was gorgeous. Almost every hue and
coior-from crimson to white, "ring streaked.
sPeckied, spotted and grizZled'-beamedt forth
from the rich velvety petals Some OF the
finest lilies that Japan affords find a congenlal
home in this beautiful soil of Long Island, and
some that rarely perfect their seed. developed
full crop last season; and the kernels were al
lowed TO fall at pleasure into the bosom OF
mother earth, where they remained during the
winter, and terminated the former part of the
growing season. Tuberoses and gladi0lus, and
extensive varieties of other flowers, iourished
here in beauty by the acre. The leaves of every
flower and tree seemed more like thin leather
than the breathing organs of growing plants.
showing conclusively that there is a wonderful
congeniaity of both soil and climate to the pro-
duction OF both flowers and fruit.
I0lae Of Stable hdRure.-Large quantities of
coarse manGre are obtained from the city by
railroad, which is dropped from the railroad
cars about half a mile from the farm. The
manure costs, delivered at the station, over
S1.5O per ton, equal to about eight bushels,
which swells the expense TO some five or six dol
lars per cord for coarse manure. Tillers of the
soil understand the great value of manure 50
well that they feel warranted in paying the
enormous prices alluded TO. Yet, much of this
high priced fertilizer is not half so valuable
the tons upon tons which great many farmers,
remote from large cities, allow to waste away
every season. Flowers, az well a. garden ycge-
tables and field crops, need the stimulating in
fuences OF rich manure; and hOrticulturalists
have learned that no fertilizer is preferable to
good compOsted stable manure fer flowers, vege-
tables, or for fruit trees. The flower plats
thoroughly enriched with some sorts Of fertiZ-
ing material. Mr.. Allen esteems red clover a. a
fertilizer of the first quality for all sorts Of flow
eTs
HOsC 10 Make Large FIo,cer Bdskefs.-In several
places in Mr.. Aliens grounds were large flower
baskets resting on the top OF a stump of tree.
which had been cut of three more feet from
the surface of the ground. few stakes driven
into the ground, or a small log placed on one
end, would answer the purpose of a stump.
large wire basket was then made in the follow
ing manner: wire ring about four feet in
diameter was made of a rod-say one-fourth of
an inch in diameter-which Is secured about one
foot above the point occupied by the bottom of
the basket. Another ring about one foot in
diameter is prepared for the bottom of the bas-
ket. Then smaller wires-say one-siXteenth of
to the large one, for the sides Of the basket
The side wires are cut off a given length, with
an open eye at each end to receive the two rings
The side wires are bent of a uniform curve, so
as to give the basket a swelled form As fast as
the open eyes of the side wires are attached TO
the bottom ring, and to the ring that represents
the rim of the basket. the ends are bent around
with pliers With few dimes worth of calva-
niZed wire one can make a large basket in about
one hour, that will last many years, especially if
IL be housed after the growing season IL over.
These large baskets were lined with moss filed
with rich earth, and were the receptacle Of sew
eral species of beautiful flowers, all in full bloom
Mr.. A. estimates that he has now growing over
10000 tnberoses, and an unknown number of
.Japan lilies