The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-03-17
Hints for Amateur Gardeners.

VhUcr mas no sooner passed tuau every
one possessing patch of land considers how
ne will cultivate it the coming season. In
the country, the farmer is already at work
Win MS subsoil plough, and he has decided
whicn acres shall be sown with grain and
which with vegetables. Parties owning coun-
try seats adjacent to the towns and villages
along the Hudson River, in Connecticut, and
Jersey, are just now making trips to their ru-
raj homes, to give directions concerning the
vegetable gardens and flower-beds. Fancy
gardening has of late years become SO fasci-
mating to men OF means, that much money
Is annually invested in vegetables which cost,
alter they are ripe, their weight in gold, One
OF our representative citizens estimated the
value OF his capbages raised at his country
seat to be twelve dollars apiece. However,
the pleasure of "seeng them grow" OF ex-
hausting the skill of expert horticulturists up
on them, of feeding the soil around them
with the fnest guano, and then of believing
that, when grown, they are little larger and
better favored than any raised by neishbors,
is the height of satisfaction.
1t is becoming favorite employment with
ladies to superntend their flower and vegeta-
BILE gardening; to devote certain portion of
the Spring days to selecting and purchasing
the choicest seeds, and to oversee their start
ing in hot-beds. The early radshes and let
tuce found on so many tables before their reg
ular season, are often the product Of the la
Dor and care OF the female mambers of the
family. Since window gardening has been so
successfully introduced by our leading florists,
and ladies have given their attention to plant
ing and nursing flowers, the study of horti-
culture has been pursued by many of them
until they understand the science OF propa-
eating plants.
WINDOW GARDENING.
This is an especially appropriate season Of
the year to make the windows beautiful with
plants. There is great pleasure in bringing
Spring in doors by collecting the flowers
which are now in bloom in the hot-house.
and planting them in the handsome boxes or
baskets made for there purpose. Window
gardening is delightful in Winter time; new
ertheless, there the hardest plants suffer
mere or less for fresh air. at this time there
are hours at noon when the windows can be
thrown open, and the plants which have been
housed in greenhouses will apparently speak
their thanks for the drink of fresh air and the
contact with the suns rays. The plants now
in blossom are the hyacinth, narcissus, tulip,
daffodil, cenem aria, heath, violets, lilies OF
the valley, and several other varieties which
are charming as companions in the sitting
room. Shall)w cigar-boxes are very useful
for planting seeds, and can be arranged to
look nicely in the windows. In two or three
weeks from this time it will be proper to plant
mgnionette and sweet elysium, those fragrant
and most suitable plants for window-boxes-
The vine seeds should then be put in the
hanging baskets. They are the most hardy
vines. The morning glory is easily cultivate
ed and is exceedingly graceful in leaf and
! flower 1t will grow re adily in sunny win
dow. Violets, early Towering snow-drops,
anemones, forget-me-not, and prtmroses are
| the best plants for culture in outside window
| boxes.-TLe- -exquisiteiloyelness OF the roso
will not permit it to be omitted from the win-
dow garden, notwithstanding it is with diff.
Guilty kept in thriving condition. Tea aLd
China roses are the best adapted for culture
| ii boxes, ---
VEGETABLE AND FLOWER SEEDS.
1t is not often that seeds are saved from
| year to year by parties tilling small farms,
unless il is some very choice variety. So
much judgment is requisite in the picking.
drying, and packing of seeds, that most gar !.
deners prefer depending on a reliable seeds
| man to supply them. Mr.. Thorburn has for
great number of years made himself prom
inent as scotsman. As soon as the spring
opens, his store is bssieged by farmers and
| hortcutlurists to obtain catalogues of his
stock. Mr.. Grant Thorburn was very well
known as an expert gardener. The anecdots
OF his small stature and his ''large feet, thar
| would scare away the caterpillars," Is still
told by his compeers. Among tie novelties
| in fine varieties of vegetable seeds for the
| spring market are the "Mont Dor beans,
''ThorbuIn's Wonderful cauiAower, 'Y Dung
Greciann cucumber, Commodore Mutt
lettuce, Emerald Gem peas, "Early French
Dwarf tomato, and the "Soola Qua' Gu
cumber, an especially choice variety. There
are many new kinds of flower seeds, in all OF
the great varieties of ANIMALS, biennias, anil
| perennials. In verbenas, larkspurs, and as =
l tors, the novelties of seeds are particularly
| recommended.
Walter Reid is very busy at this season
with his new designs for house and garden
decorations. His aim seems to be to arrange
| for the growth indoors of all the beautiful
flowers and ferns, which we only expect to
find in summer garden or to PICK wild In
the woods. The rustic ornaments in his
store are curious and exquisite. One espec-
tally original flower-stand is filled with twigs
and ferns, and, in the centre, surrounded by
clustering leaves, is fine transparency OF
the ''Holy Family" Mr.. Reid is preparing
to attach porcelain portraits in these jardi-
nets, which will make them a very novel and
attractive gift for those who would like to
find their '.Love among the Roses"
For keeping plants healthy which are in
| doors at this season, close the windows of
their rooms by three o'clock. Great atteii-
ton must be paid to their cleanliness to pro-
mote their rapid growth. Flower pots need
washin G ON the ontside weekly. Never leave
water standing in the saucers of the flower
pots. Water must be given the plants plen-
tifully in these Springs months. Rain water
is always best for vegetation. Stimulate
plants once a week with liquid manure. A
large sronge is good for watering pot tor
house plants. This is the month to prepare
the q ound for a successful crop of vegetables
and flowers. "Tte dlligent hand maketh
v;oy, b,f tba rd ehan in .;