Morning journal and courier., 1886-02-04
after. For variety some cracked wheat, rice, oaten grits, ''cottage cheese" etc., may occa- sionally be fed with the best of results.
 ORCHARD AND GARDEN.

| after. For variety some cracked wheat, rice l oaten grits, "cottage cheese" etc., may occa sionally be fed with the best of results. ORCHARD AND GARDEN. 1 Put tools in order.
 | Is the garden planned?
 | Scatter coal ashes under the currant shrubs Beet roots extend several feet from the l plants.
 Look out for and remove the rings of tent | caterpillar eggs, which may now be seen in | the trees near the ends of the twigs. Make straw mats for hot heds and frames l of size that each one will cover one and 6 | half sash, and to hang down half foot over the bed at the top and bottom. Those who winter early cabbage plants in frames must not forget that these need plen- l ty of air whenever tie temperature is above | the thawing point, but in cold weather the | frames may remain close for days together. Get into the orchard with pruning knife l and saw in mild weather, but don't overdo the pruning. Better cut too little than too much. Weak and imperfect shoots should come out, as also such as cross each other in close conjunction. Stunted trees or branch es may often be helped by a severe cutting back. Aim in pruning to open the head that sun and air may enter.
 Labels on Trees.-Many branch of wig orous tree. and even many trees have been killed or badly injured from strangulation by the simple cause of allowing labels to re- l main year after year without loosening the wires. Trees grow and the parts enlarge while the label wires necessarily twisted tight on the branches when trees leave the | nursery soon cut into the bark. Of course the one way to prevent all this is to replace all such old labels with new ones, fastened with strong wires with loops so large that years of growth will not fill them out. This being small job is easily neglected there | is no excuse for allowing it to remain un- I 1a1, 1iol I | days in winter put it aright As for la- bels we prefer heavy, well-painted ones of pine attached with No. 16 copper wire for permanent. Zinc labels are also excellent FLOWERS AND THE LAWN. Plan to have rockery.
 Early pansies should be sown. Abuti1ons come easily from seed. Many lily bulbs are imported from Japan. Cramping the roots of cineraras means de- struction to the plants.
 Camellias will do nothing if kept in heat above 55 degrees.
 The Scarlet Gem carnation plants crowded with bloom remind one of geraniums. If you want a window plant that will give innumerab1e flowers for months order rose o1alis from your florist at this season. The begonias of either the rex or the flow ering sorts are among the best of house plants. While they have no need of bright sunshine fact dislike it, yet a bright place in other respects suits them. Those who now turn their attention to slipping the house plants should bear in
 mind that the bouvardias can be increased | in this way only with the greatest difficulty. In fact so unreliable is slip propagation for these that but few florists practice it. To
 increase the plants it is only necessary to
 take up some roots the size of coarse darn
 ing needle, cut them into pieces inch or
 two long and plant in light material, cover
 ing with sand. The piece of root should be
 laid down. Keep the pot or box containing
 the cuttings in warm place until the shoots
 appear; light is not needed.
 Sow Hollyhocks Now-We mean in case
 some plants wanted and no provision was
 made for this by sowing the seeds last sum
 at the usual time. Seeds started early
 in this month will make plants of nice size
 for planting out by May. These then if set
 in good rich soil will grow rapidly and bloom
 at about the ordinary time We know of one
 successful flower grower who prefers treat
 ing his hoilyhocks thus annuais to mana
 ging them in any other way.