The National tribune., 1881-11-26

/ anu at the SIDES cracked, with the juice eHudlnS
and standing on the surface like drops Of dew.
Then take the stalk in one hand, and with a
knife cut off the top end of the fruit, and peel Oft
the skin in flakes making one mOuthful of the
! luscious interior.
SPRING FLowERING BULBs.-Foremosta among
these are the hardy hyacinth, tulips, narcissus,
! and crocus: and it may be said that no class Of
| towering plants can be so entirely satisfactory
for general decorative purposes as these. They
are of the easiest culture, requiring only min
/ imum amount of care.
These bulbs are furnished by seedsmen, who
import them from Holland, where for ages they
have been objects Of special culture and are there
produced cheaper and better than in any other
part OF the world.
/ Bulbs succeed well in any soil that is rich and
not too wet. They dc better on light, somewhat
/ sandy soils; in clayey soils an inch or two of
sand under the bulb when planting will be adj
vantageOus. They should be planted so that the
top of the bulb will be from three to four inches
below the surface. They can be planted any
time from the middle of October till the end of
November but the earlier the better so that they
NAV make a growth of roots during fall and early
winter If not planted until spring the flowers
Will be weak and imperfect, even from the strong
est bulbs.
They are most effective when masscd in a cir
cular or oval bed placing the taller kinds, such
as the narcissus and tulips, in the centre, then
band of hyacinths bordered with the dwarfer GRO
cusses In spring or at the time of planting the
bulbs SOW the bed thickly with seed Of the por-
tuaca which Will flower after the leaves of the
bulbs decay. and continue until frost, thus fur
nishing a succession of flowers during spring and
summer The bulbs remain in the ground undis-
turbed the portulaca Will seed the bed, and thus
furnish the best example of flower gardening
made easy" that can be produced.
For parlor culture few plants can equal the
hyacinth. The bulbs may be grown either in
pots, boxes, or in glasses with water. The best
method, however. is to plant them in pots. 4
peculiar pot is sometimes made for this culture,
called the hyacinth pot; this is deeper, in pro-
portion to its diameter, than the ordinary-shaped
flower pot; but an ordinary pot Of the size called
5-inch will answer every purpose The soil
should be rather dry when used, and pressed
quite firmly in the pot. The bulbs are planted
so that they are merely covered, or even a small
portion may be above the surface.
And now comes the most important point i'll
their treatment Select an 0ut-Ofthe-way cor
ner, and set the pots as close together as they
VIII sit level; then cover them over with earth
sand or coal ashes, the covering to be from eight
to ten inches deep. This will result in the plants
filling the pots with roots in the course of six or
eight weeks, after which they may be brought
into the room when they viii forthwith COM
mence to flower strong and luxuriant.
A few plants can be removed at a time if a
heightened succession Of flowers is required; they
viii keep for months under the thick covering
II the tops have made growth before removal
they should not be exposed to the sun for a few
days, OF until they acquire green color
When grown in glasses, those of blue or dark
color are to be preferred The water should
merely reach to the base Of the bulb, and they
should be placed in dark closet until the glass
is well filed with roots, which viii be in from
four to six weeks, according to the temperature
Of the room.
The water should be changed every three
weeks or oftener. if ii becomes impure: but to do
this the plant must not be taken out: the glass
should be held horizontally, and the water pour
ed Off Rain water is best. A few small pieces
OF charcoal helps to keep the water pure.
FARMING X SCOTLAND-Ec0nomy Of labor is
the grand Characteristic of farming in Scotland
There are no halfemployed loungers; and every
man has his work allotted to him, which he must
perform, or give his place to another who can
accomplish it. Farm implements for cultiyating
the land are mostly made of iron, and are simple,
yet strong in their construction and effective in
their operation. Every process Of farm wori, is
quickly executed and 50 arranged as to avoid all
confusion or unnecessary delay.
The farmers seldom work with their own hands, +
but every operation of any nicely or Importance /
is conducted under their personal inspection
Considerable rivalry exists among them as TO .
which shall have the cleanest farms and the best .
crops; and this spirit is fostered by the opera
tons Of local agricultural societies, in the shape
of premium and sweepstake competitions.--Nor /
TOMS Encyclopedia.
GREEN MANURING.-To enrich lands by
blowing under green crops OF rye, buclwheat,
&c, is a system not sufficiently appreciated by
many farmers who work poor lands at little
profit. The land must be extremely p0or--in-
conceivably poor, in iact--which will not if sOwn
in the fall with rye, Or earlier with Italian rye
grass, produce green covering to be pl0wcd un-
der in spring when it may again be seeded with