The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-05-23
Horticulture.


To have roses bloom well keep old wood cut
back; cover bushes in winter with straw, corn
stalks or loose manure, and work into soil
around them plenty of iron filings, or break up
old pieces OF cast-iron as fine as possible and
put in ground next the roots.
II bugs trouble your roses, put spoon
ful of white hellebore in pail of water and
sprinkle it on the bushes or vines.
To SOW evenly such fine seeds as Ferns,
Calceolaria, ETC., take a piece of white paste
board, rub the seed lightly over il until it COW
ers the exact size of the pot or box 1t Is to be
sown in then invert on to the soil, and. by tap
ping gently, it will fall as evenly as 1t was
rubbed on the pasteboard
Seedlings in general should never be watered
later than an hour or two before shutdown, as
the damp surface il apt to produce fungus
which will cause every plant to damp on
during the night.
Do not throw away your coal ashes or leave
them out in the storms; they are valuable as an
absorbent for night slops, also deodorizer
for privy-vauts. Used in this way one Of the
most valuable fertilizers are made Wood
ashes exert wonderful influence on an onion
bed.
Never allow weeds to get start; nip them
in the bud.
All plants are benefited by having the
ground stirred around them-there is no ex-
cepton to the rule. The use of the hoe or
mode of keeping the ground free from weeds or
grass.
Excessive watering is Lad for gefaniums,
and will cause the leaves to turn yellow and
fall.
Water WELL but not too often. If the pots
stand i'm saucers, the water must not be allowed
to stand in them; for plants, like persons, can
not be healthy with wet feet.
All gardens should have beds OF herbs.
They are always looked for in the fall and
nearly always forgotten in spring. Now is the
time to plant Thyme, Sage, Anise Dill, Pars-
ley and many other perennial seeds. Will send
seeds for two stamps.
To kill the Peach tree Borer, use fish brine
diluted with an equal quantity of waer-a
pint poured around each tree in spring or fall.
For very small trees use less
All shade trees should be mulched with
coarse manure, to protect the roots during
warm weather.
A tablespoonful of dry SCOT sprinkled on
the top of four-inch pot will be found to
bring worms up over the sides Of the pot as
soon as the water is applied 1t also stimu-
lates the roots into performance Of their duty,
darkens the foliage, and Is an excellent fer
tilizer. Mr.. KENNIE
HISsDALE, Dupage county, H.
PLEA FOR HERBAcEoUs PERENNIALs.
SO much has been said about ANNALS of
late that am afraid the dear perennials will
be neglected unless l speak for them / know
they will not be forgotten by those who have
had them, and know the keen delight of watch
ing for the coming germs when the first pleas
ant days invite us to the garden. We know
just where to look for our pets that have been
under the snow so long, and we carefully stir
the old leaves to take peep Yes, they are
coming! With thrill of pleasure we herald
the glad hdings, for ii Is almost like seeing the
face Of an old friend. And how exultingly
they grow! each day is revelation.
Among the hardest and earliest old favorites
are the Columbines, Perennial Phlox and Lark
spur. All of these grow readily from seed,
and one mixed packet of each kind will give
you a fine variety of colors Hollyhocks,
Sweet Williams, Lychnis, Anemones, Violets
and others grow from seed and host OF beau
ties are propagated only from roots. In this
class we find Dicentra, Peony, Meadow Sweet,
May Pinks, Fleurdeluce, etc Then there are
all the Lilies, from the sweet little Lily Of the
Valley on through stately ranks of beautiful
queens, till you reach the great double Tiger
Lily.
Many of us cannot get all we want for our gar
dens this year, but we can certainly add some
thing to our collection, and it is surprising how
much we may accumulate by little persever.
ing effort
Do not wait till seedtime is over, or you will
be sorry-in year from this-that you did not
heed SISTER SARAH
OTTAWA, Ill.