The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-07
HINTS FOR AMATEURS
Plant lily bulbs early as possible

Plant lily bulbs early as possible.
One acre Of gensing properly Gull
tivated will make its owner rich.
It is good practice to pinch in be-
gonias, the same as other plants, in
order to promote a shapely form.
Don't neglect to have asters, bal
sans, plalox and Dianthus pinks, as no
garden is complete without them.
Don't waste time and ground on old
seeds from last year. Secure a fresh
supply from some reliable seed dealer.
Put good servicable labels on all
new shrubs. It is provoking not to
be able to know at once the correct
name.
Gladiolus bulbs can be set out by
the first of this month, and then set
out few every ten days for a sue
cession.
Always soak sweet peas over night
in teptd water before planting; they
appear above ground several days
earlier for such treatment.
Evergreens may, be successfully
transplanted in nearly every month IN
the year, provided proper care be ex-
ercised to keep the roots moist.
Tho an old-fashioned flower, the
balsam is one of the easiest to grow,
producing its masses Of beautiful col
ored double flowers in great profusion.
The pruning of rose bushes,
shrubbery, etc., that did not receive
attention during the winter, should be
finished soon, before the sap begins
to flow.
A few chickens should be kept on
every fruit farm. They help to de-
stroy worms and insects and are good
producers of eggs and fresh meat for
the table.
Digitalis, or foxglove, grows to a
height of two and a half or three feet.
It's flowers are tubular and pendant,
arranged in a spike. Blue and white,
prettily spotted.
No home in the city or country is
complete without trees. On the prai-
ries in our state and the Dakotas,
trees have to be planted. Our home
nurseries have the best and most re-
liable stock to choose from.
Do not forget to plant vines. Put
morning glory seed freely around the
hardy shrubs. The blossoms will give
a fine effect in the fall. Scarlet run
ner, Japanese hop, wild cucumber,
when planted, will take care of them
selves. .E
Now is the time to look after your
lawn. Rake the old dry grass anc
leaves off, SOW a mixture of reliable
grass seed and use some good fert1l.
4 izers to feed your lawn for the com
ing season. A green, well-kept lawr
is the best improvement you can make
to the home. .-e
Those who have a quantity of dab.
! liza bulbs in the cellar should try
) starting few of them now, and keeI
a few others dormant until time t
I plant them in the open ground whel
the weather becomes settled. Thu
will give a succession Of bloom thru
out the summer and fall.
Be sure and have a large bed o.
pinks the coming season. Order then
5 as you do your roses; strong-growint
} standard varieties, some early ant
( some late boomers, in the clear pink
{ crimson, scarlet, yellow and white col
) ors, and you will have perfume ant
I loneliness all the season.
5 Where a large surface is wished t
be covered in short order, the Bra
lillian morning glory is calculated t
give splendid satisfaction. 1t grow
thirty-five feet or more in season
branches freely, furnishes a dens
shade, and has rose-colored flower
. three to four inches across. No annus
. climber equals it either in extent c
ID growth or magnificent tropical appear
ance. |s...
Few seem to realize how easily dab
las may be raised from seed. A guam
tity of tubers Of desirable variet1e
e. would prove quite expensive but
1O-cent package Of seed Of mixed va
= rieties may be planted now and tn
= thrifty little plants will be ready fo
| outside as soon as the weather is sci
| tied, will bloom abundantly this frs
| season and produce fine tubers fc
next years planting.
The sweet peas should be ordere
this month so that we may be sur
to receive them in time to pla1
early. When given this early sta
they will become we'll established an
~ loaded with bloom before the NJ
= blighting suns Of midsummer have
opportunity to injure them.
flower-lovers should be encouraged
{ grow these fragrant beauties
) abundance; there are very few fov
! ers that will give more general satl
{ faction if properly cared for and SUI