The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-04-17
Flower Garden and Lawn.

Shrubs planned in clumps are very useful IN
concealing boundary lines and giving pleas
ing effect to the grounds. A well-f0rmed shrub
standing alone IS often very beautiful.
Under this heading are included the vari
Gus hints for the ornamentatiOn OF the grounds
around the house-the front yard, as 1t is
= generally called-wlth its trees, shrubs, beds
and paths, and above all the
ANNUAL-All hardy ANNALS, rocket lark
spars stocks, pansies and the like are to be
sewn az soon as the beds can be made ready
The tender ones, such as balsams, China asters,
etc, may be sown in hotbcds or window
boxes.
WALKS AND DRIvEs.-As far as possible in
laying out walks let them take direction
that all will be inclined to follow, that there
may be no crosscut "sheep- paths" The
walks will need 10 be raked, smOothcd and
rolled. In constructing new ones and drives
make solid foundation of coarse stones with
smaller ones above. Thoroughness IN the
making OF walk or drive will always pay
A good walk is a comfort, while poor one is
always source of annoyance to the owner
and all others
TREEs-The tendency is to plant too thick
ly. Young trees make but little showing at
first, and over planting Is natural. For the
health of the family no trees should be plant
cd so near the house as to exclude the light OF
sunshine. In planting do not copy neghbol
and thus create q sameness. DO not plan
large forest trees in a small yard, but selec
those of medium size and attractive for flowers
as well as foliage. The varieties are almost
innumerable, and those from our own woods
and thickets are many times AS good US the
best
CURRANTs AND GoosEBERRIEs-Prune a.
once any that have been omitted; abundant
manuring and mulchlng will increase the size
of the crop and fruit. So soon as the leaves
are of much SIZE the worms" may be expect
ed Examine the under surface of the lower
leaves for the eggs, and destroy all that are
found When holes are seen in the leaves ap
ply White Hellebore, either sprinkled dry OF
mixed in water, tablespoonful or so to pail
full of water 1t Is better first to scald the
Hellebore with little boiling water before
adding it to the pail containing the cold water
Keep stirred
AsPARAGUs-The old ideas about the clab
crate preparation for an asparagus bed are ou
of date; 1t is easy to make bed for aspara
gus as almost any other plant and nothing
pays any better for the little trouble. Set tho
new beds so soon as the plants can be had
giving it a generous manuring, and putting
the crowns about four inches below the sur
face. Rows two feet apart, with loot between
the plants, is good distance for the family
garden, but if room can be spared the distance
may be increased. Let the plants grow unit
the third year before cutting. The coarse lit
ter should be taken from the old bed, to make
1t smooth and clean, before the stems como
through the ground.
EARLY POTATOES should be put into the
ground at the earliest possible date. When
started in boxes they may be greatly hastened
in planting take care that the tender sprouts
are not broken off. The soil should be ligh
and warm for early potatoes.
LAwN-Nothing is more pleasing than al
eXpanse of smooth, rich, green, nicely KEEP
grass. The lawn should be one of the features
of every pleasure ground, 10 matter how lin
tied in extent, and IN laying out the walks anc
drives they should not divide the lawn more
than can be helped In making lawn the
soil should be first thoroughly manured; after
which, for heavy soils, Kentucky Blue Gras:
seed should be sown IN abundance; fol- ligh
soils Rcd-Top is best. 1t is well to SOW the
seed IN two or more directions, thus securing &
more even distribution, and therefore better
turf