Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-12-19
RURAL AFFAIRS.
Kitchen and Market Garden.

Going into winter quarters is the chief work
here as we'll as elsewhere. Whatever of clear
ing up or preparatory work that can be done
now and save an hour in the rush of spring. let
it be done
Cold frames, except In severe weather will
need ventilation by lifting the sash at the top;
when the temperature is above freezing, remove
| the sashes altogether. Remove the snow from
the saShes. unless 1t falls when the earth within
the frame is frozen, when it may remain week
| or more without doing harm. In mild weather
remove it at once.
Roots. etc, in trenches should have their
| final covering when the weather becomes stead
/ lily cold. Boards laid roof fashion over the
/ straw, leaves etc, used for covering will allow
the contents OF the pits to be readily reached
when covered with snow
Celery Is not injured 10y slight freezing but
il the mass should heat. growth would begin
and the celery be hollow. The final covering.
which should be about a foot thick need not be
put on until really cold weather. Celery in
boxes in the cellar must be kept as cool as Dos
sib!e without freezing.
Cellars OF the house must sometimes be used
Tor storing vegetables and fruit, though this
/ should be avoided if possible. 1t is well to have
a thermometer in the cellar, and to keep the
: temperature as near So as possible Cover all
vent whiting
Horseradish is generally used only in the
spring. but may be had all winter by storing the
roots IN trench or in the cellar in q box with
earth.
SquaShes and sweet potatoes, to keen vel. re-
QuIre temperature of about sixty degrees
LOOK over the squashes occasionally handling
carefully, and remove for use those that show
signs of decay.
Winter Work. Store away all seeds that have
peen saved, with name and date. Repair all
implements and machines. Markers dibbles
stakes. and other garden cOnveniences should
De made on stormy days. If muck can be had
within hauling distance, secure large pile and
let IL 1reeZe.-Ame1tcdn A91icult,nTst.
Beauty from Mixed EluIbs.
To guard against the general objections made
to spring bulbs planted with only one kind to-
cether-that though beautiful beyond descrlp-
tiOn while in flower the time OF blossominq is
brief and thereafter the beds look bare and are
not available tor other use--the american Gar-
den suggests an ingenious combination, which
has been tested with much pleasure during
several years: This fault can be overcome by
use OF such bulbs as bloom successfully. Make
round bed Of any size and plant an inner cir
! cuiar row OF crocus, and next outside a row of
| hyacinths then second row Of crocus. and
next one of tulips. Continue this until the bed
is filled. making every second row crocus and
alternating hyacnths and tulips between them
The row on the extreme edge must be crocus
ana the space inside of the first row should be
filled with tulips or hyacinths. The effect of q
ped thus arranged is extremely pretty long
time and, thus arranged it may remain undis-
turbed two or three years. Snow has no sooner
gone than the bed is bright with the CHEEKY lit
tie crOcus, which apparently covers the whole
surface These will hardly have passed away
when we have a bed of hyacinths in all their
delicate, lovely tints. The tulips then form a.
| climax OF gorgeOusness that will last till the
middle of June. The foliage of the crocus.
which is extremely delicate and pretty. is in
perfection during the flowering of the hyacinths
and tulips and covers the bed as with a lovely
green carpet, taking away the usual bare look
OF bulb beds when out of their time of bloom.
Still another succession might be had by scat
tering the bulbs of the Spanish iris through the
bed. They are perfectly hardy. with slender
foliage, and furnish exquistely beautiful flow
ers in every shade of blue. purple white. and
even chocolate. These following the tulips
need only seeing to be appreciated"