davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1919-09-18
Hint for Gardeners.

Buddy was helping work in the gar
den. when grandpa told him to pull
some radishes for supper; the ground
was hard. and Buddy had great diff
Guilty in trying to pull them; finally he
gave it up, and going to grandpa said:
II visit you'd planted 'em upside
down, dranpa; then they wouldn't be
so hard to pull
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1919-09-18
A Ninenn,lnoon.

"Nincompoop" is most entirely sat
isfying and refined way Of calling a
person fool or blockhead or a SIM
pleton. It Il a corruption of the Latin
phrase mon compos mentis"--not
sound Of mind. Besides being satisfy
ing and refined 1; has classical origin
In addition.
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1919-09-18

THE Indians Of Kentucky" says DIR.
Clark Wissler, "were In the habit OF
burning on forest areas regularly so
as to provide pasturage for the buffalo.
thus enticIug him to remain In the
country" Again, the Indians living In
the regions where Wild rice grows,
were observed to take certain precau-
lions TO protect the rice beds, even to
facilitating their growth"
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1919-09-18
The husband IN CHARGE.

Wife-"Considering how long I've
been away. l think you might have
made some preparations to receive
me-" Husband-"You do me injus-
tice. my dear. have had the library
and parlor thoroughly cleaned and
aired" Servant tinterrupting)-
"Please, sir, the man has come with
a barrow for them empty bottles"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-27

found the growth OF which will form
a most interesting study in plant life
to the nature lover and a never ending
source of delight.
We were also particularly success
full In a fern bed composed of all
varieties Of native ferns, which we con-
structed on a plot twelve feet by six
feet, formed by an ell Of the house.
We secured various sized stones and
rocks for the border and by placing
a row OF small ferns close to the edge
secured a most pleasing effect. There
are at least twelve different varieties
of ferns in this bed. with a liberal
sprInkllng OF fine specimens OF maiden
hair. and the cool restful appearance
Of the little nook Is a balm for tired
nerves, for 1t is a "veritable school Of
peace" and amply compensates one
for the trouble and time consumed in
gathering the ferns and preparing the
bed.
A fern bed of this type when once
made requires no further attention
except the protection of leaves in the
winter and seems to grow more beau
tiful with each succeeding year.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-27
SUGGESTIONS FOR WATERING
by WILLIAM STANLEY

Every season there is about the city
OF New York a period OF drought. At
such times It has been the custom with
many to give the ground a light gen.
eral watering, perhaps each evening
This treatment results In but little
good to the plants.
The true principle In watering Is to
begin before the ground has become
very dry and water thoroughly as far
as the watering Is done. Select a plot
Of ground not so large but that It may
be sprayed over a number OF times in
that portion of the evening allotted
for the purpose. Water one spot Of
this plot until the ground will absorb
no more moisture and the water be-
gins to run off. Then move along with
the hose or watering pot to the next
portion OF the plot, and so on until all
OF the plot has been well drenched.
Then go back to the place of begin
ming where the moisture has pene-
trated and again drench, thus gradu-
ally passing a second time over all that
has been watered. and repeat a num-
Der Of times unit, the soil is saturated
down below the roots OF the plants.
The next evening water another sec
tion Of the garden in the same man
ner. and another, and so on until the
entire garden has been thoroughly wa
tered.
In the South Side parks. Chicago,
the rule is that II all the ground that
was 20 be watered could not be thor
oushly drenched In . single night It
was better TO be thorough as far as
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-27
p0T.PoURRI.

The chief ingredient in making pot.
pourri is half dried rose petals and
roughly speaking this should constitute
proportion by bulk of something like
four-nfths OF the whole Then If the
remaining fifth is still further SUBJ
divided 1t may be two-thirds sweet
geranium and the remainder bay
leaves and lavender. These proper
tons are given as a kind Of type,
but they need not be constant, for in
some years II may be convenient to
use less OF rose and more OF sweet
geranium. and II will make good pot
pourri. We make every other year
enough to fl big tub which holds
nearly 200 pounds. 1t is not made
every year, because the preparation
takes a good deal of time and labor
and the quantity sufiices for the usual
two years distribution; moreover, It Is
better the second year than the first
as 1t ripens slowly to a more complete
maturity.
The roses are picked when opened
to their widest; they must be quite dry
and must not have been rained on
since they were in bud. They are best
collected on sunny day any time
between II and 3.
II the roses are picked at all damp
they will not dry properly, but will
go mouldy and the batch will only
have TO he thrown away. We pick
about two bushels at time and they
are at once taken to a big. airy room.
n temporarily disused studio, where a
large cloth. a dust sheet or bale
wrapper is laid out on the brick floor.
On this the petals are picked off and
separated. II this can not be done at
once the roses must not be left In the
basket or ever be laid to wait In heaps,
as they would soon heat and spoil
they must be laid out not more than
;wo or three roses thick on the wrap
per- There are three old oak tables
in the studio, eight feet or nine feet
long, and the rose leaves are laid out
on cloths Of these. II the following
day Is fine and sunny they are taken
out and laid on their wrappers in the
sun on the little paved court just out
side; but II rain comes on or even
threatens we rush TO the rescue and
bring them indoors and put them again
on the tables. II they have been in
the sun the second day they may be
ready to so into the preparation Jars
on the afternoon Of the third day but
the time they take to dry to the proper
state Is better understood by the
barometer than by the rose grower,
who has TO learn II by experience; but
hnVA n ah TstV N hn, half
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-27
OUR FERN BED.
by MAY ALICE SMITH.

Probably there is no plant grown
which so appeals to the gardener Of
refined taste as the beautiful fern with
its wonderful grace Of form and in
finite variety Of color shadings from
the pale young green" OF the deli
cately fringed maidenhair to the deep
glossy hue of the so-called Christmas
fern.
Few people, however. realize what
wonderful effects can be obtained at
very small outlay with the aid of our
native wood ferns, which never fail to
call forth a cry of Joy when found in
heir cool feathery beds in their native
raunts. but which We rarely realize
an be so easily transplanted and will
o quickly contribute to the beauty Of
our own lawns and gardens.
As foundation planting for the
shady side Of the house the tall variety
NJ wild fern which grows SO aburd-
antly in swampy places in the woods
OF Long Island is unsurpassed both
for its permanent value and for it's
durability. holding its beautiful foliage
from the time the fronds uncurl in
early May until late autumn.
Our own problem in foundation
planting was forty foot northern ex-
posed strip against an ugly gray stone
foundation wall about three feet In
height After several unsuccessful at
tempts to grow flowers and shrubs Of
different varieties OH this shady side
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-27

bly, only three or four. At that very
time. though. hundreds of Hawthorne,
unknown and unnamed. were growing
all through the United states and
Canada 1t has remained for the
Arnold Arboretum TO give the Haw-
thorn its rightful place among the
plants Of North America, and the Ar
boretum has no greater achievement
to Its credit. even though 1t has intro
duced thousands OF good plants from
fereign lands.
Europe has only a few Hawthorn
species, and all OF Asia hardly more
than two dozen. 1t is on the American
continent that these trees abound in
greatest numbers. Yet when Prof
Sargent first began to report the dis
covery Of new varieties he was taken
10 task by many other botanists, who
believed that he was greatly in error.
Even the Arboretum officials them
selves had no expectation that many
hundreds Of new kinds would be found
before their Investigations were COM
pleted. AS matter OF fact, the end
has not been reached as yet 1t is
quite probable that hundreds of species
remain undiscovered even now. The
Arboretum has at least one hundred
and fifty different Hawthorne which II
has indexed but not yet named There
are thousands Of square miles in the
United States and Canada where Haw-
thorns are known to exist and yet
where no. systematic collections have
been made.
The thorns appear in more different
forms than any other tree growing on
this continent. But for Prof. Sargent's
keen observation in the Arboretum
the chances are that the number would
still be limited to sixteen or n few
more. Prof. Sargent first noticed that
plants raised In the Arboretum from
seeds collected in various parts Of the
country, especially In Missouri and
Arkansas. differed constantly from
any species described In the books.
They did not flower at the same time.
They had n different number OF
stamens, the color OF the anthers
differed and the fruits themselves
varied greatly. 1t was surmised
at first that many hybrids had
sprung up; but this conjecture was
soon set aside. for the different trees
maintained their characteristics abso-
lutely without change. As Prof Sargent
recently expressed It: 1.-THE seedlings
OF the supposed hybrids were as alike
as though made by a machine"
Four thousand lots OF Crategus
seed have been planted in the Ar
boretum. and the resulting trees grown
to the Towering age. This has not
been a simple matter. either for It
takes at least a year and sometime q
three years for Hawthorn seeds to
sprout Meanwhile they repose in
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-27

jars are now 50 tightly compacted thar
they have to be loosened by stabbing
with an iron wedding fork; they come
up In close. thick flakes, which have
to be broken up by hand, and are then
thrown upon the floor. 1t Is best for
three or four persons to work together,
one OF them having the pail OF spice
mixture, so that a. the heap on the
floor rises the various ingredients are
already more or less mixed. When
tho jars are empty and the spices ex-
hausted the whole Is turned over back
ward and forward on the floor with .
shovel. and If 1t appears to be little
too dry a slight sprinkling Of water is
given with a fine nosed can. OF this
new mixture none Is used til the fol-
lowing March or April, and 1t is all
the better IL It remains for nearly .
year in the tue untouched.
have collected and studied a num-
Der OF old recipes for pot-pourr1, but
find in many Of them either some want
OF definite instruction or some obvious
inaccuracy; but 1t has not been DIM
cult to gather from them what is es-
sentially useful, and so with the added
experience Of many years to establish
a more or less regular course OF op-
Grafton.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-27

Interesting Personal Experiences of GardenersSugges
lions Regarding Watering Making Bed Of Native
Plants in the Poor Soil About a New House

OF the house we determined to expert
ment with the tall wood ferns growing
in such profusion In the woods located
just on the fringe Of our town. The
result obtained far exceeded our Wild
est dream Of success. The ferns grew
to a height Of about four feet and the
effect of the cool GREEN foliage against
the white house was a constant de-
light to the eve and never failed to
call forth the admiration of the
passerby.
In order that the ferns may be per-
feet In form the FIRST year II Ia i'm
portant that the roots be dug before
the fronds have uncurled, and we
found the most successful manner in
which to secure the roots was to chop
them out with an axe in cubes of
soil Of about foot in size. They
should be planted Immediately in holes
previously prepared, and these holes
should be at least two inches deeper
than the cubes themselves to allow
nm opportunity for q liberal supply OF
water to be applied without running
on. The ground requires no special
preparation, az the ferns thrive In the
most Indifferent soil.
The only winter protection these
ferns require Is covering OF leaves
with a few branches thrown on top
to hold them in place. and each re-
curing spring upon pulling aside the
leaves great punches Of fronds will be
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-27
EXPERIENCES OF AN OLD
GARDENER.

Recent articles in THE Sun and in
florists catalogues recall some expert
ences in flower raising so long ago
that l am like the old soldier who
can only sit and tell his battles DER"
Especially ! note the revival OF the
old crab cactus" l had a medium
sized one some twenty-five years ago,
which was frozen. 1t had more than
one hundred buds and blossoms on II
and | have searched in vain until re-
Gently for one to replace 1t. l have
one now which has surely been IA
thing OF beauty and a JOY " II not for.
ever, at least for many weeks. We
wonder how any home can be without
an ornament so easily cared for and
80 lasting In its brightness.
Another Of my old successes was re-
called to memory by an item about
mignonette, decribing the method of
growing a tree" No doubt many
have done the same thing. but I never
saw or heard of one except my own
/ had 1t for three years, and It died
OF overbloom, mass of flowers
eighteen inches in diameter.
Salvias In varied colors, too, are
coming TO the front again. once
had scarlet, white. blue, crimson and
crimson and white stiped-also a
dwarf scarlet Saliva coccinea, on the
catalogue. with fragrant leaves, which
also made tree" and bloomed sum-
mer and winter for five years. Per-
haps others may have had these, too,
but they seem to be dropped from
florists lists and merged into the scar
let's.
I recall an amaranth which grew
about fve feet high, with blossoms
like a crimson rope. some of them a
yard In length. Also a nicotiana
macrophylla gigantea, taller than a
man, with very large leaves and i'm
mense purple blossoms, far more
snowy than hollyhocks and as easy Of
cultivation. I have looked for these
things for years. but failed to see them
or find them In the catalogues.
One more "Reminiscences. had some
special reason for raising a slip OF
neutrality-suspicious. which long re-
fused either to grow or to die. / put
1t In a small tub filled with the rich
est soil. and nailed n to a stump
In a sunny spot. II finally grew
magically. soon cyerhowing like a
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-27

boxes Of earth buried in tho ground
or stacked in a cellar. Then the seed
lings must be grown two or three
years in a nursery before being trans
planted. After the second year the
plants make rapid growth.
The Administration building in the
Arboretum contains thousands Of fire.
proof cabinets, and in these cabinets
herbarium specimens. wrapped In
stout papers, have been placed The
leaf, flower and fruit Is included in
each instance, so that many charac-
teristics Of each species can be seen at
a glance. These specimens are checked
up by a similar collection of leaves,
seeds and flowers taken from a tree
of each species found growing in the
wild state.
Almost all the Hawthorne have at
tractive white flowers, besides being
ornamental in form and foliage. Most
kinds have decorative fruit which
often persists until late In the winter.
One OF the handsomest species,
Crat@gus Arnoldiana, ripens it's fruit
In August. Many persons consider
this the handsomest Of all the Haw-
thorns found within the Arboretum
walls. Some kinds have foliage which
becomes unusual, rich and attractive
In the fall. A few have edible fruit,
and in the South certain kinds ar,
now being used for making a Jelly
which tastes quite similar to guaya
Jelly.
1t is an interesting fact that the
Hawthorns grow largely in groups.
There are twenty Of these groups in
the country. each group having dis
tinct characteristics by which bota-
nists can readily place them. A big
colony of Hawthorne has been found
near Buffalo, with fifteen or twenty
distinct forms In an area Of only a few
acres. Even though botanists in gen.
eral know little about the American
Hawthorn, for little material is avail.
able for the study OF these plants
apart from what ds found in the
Arboretum and in the park nurseries
at Rochester, N. Y. the Rochester
park officials have shown much in
terest In the Hawthorne and are
growing many specimens, having the
Buffalo colony to draw upon The
Rochester collection has been largely
augmented through the aid OF the
Arboretum, while the Rochester park
officials have returned the compliment
with species growing wild in the
neighborhood of that city.
In time to come nurserymen all over
the country will take up the growing
OF Hawthorne, and this tree will come
to be undoubtedly one OF the most
common In American gardens. For
that matter many Of the best species
will be taken abroad for much IN
terest in the thorns OF the new world
has been shown by horticulturists
across the water, No plants that
grow are more satisfactory for filling
the garden with warm color in the
Fall, and the Towering season, al
though short, is an event to be looked
inward to by every garden lover.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-27

the work was done, finishing the rest
another evening. This is doubtless the
rule in most city parks.
On the mile OF floral and foliage
plant designs on Drexel Boulevard one
or two men water these and the green
sward with the hose all night long.
Personal experience shows that
where watering has been neglected un-
til there 10 immediate danger of the
plants perishins from the drought 1t
might be better to go over the ground
with single application. Especially
is this likely to be the case where the
roots lie near the surface However,
where there have been light showers
after a long period Of dryness the roots
near the surface may have been suf-
ficiently revived to survive, while the
deep rooted plants may most need wa
tering. Regular and thorough water
ing should be the rule.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-27

Some are small shrubs, others largo
.rees with widespreeding crowns;
ONE have tendant and others erect
branches. All are entrancinsly beau-
tiful.
At Koganei. a village some ten
niles from Toxic, there Is three
mile avenue OF cherry trees. many
from sixty to seventy-five feet tall.
with trunks from ten to twel feet In
girth and crowns from fifty to sixty
feet through. When in full flower the
scene presented Is a never-to-be-for
gotten one"
There are other beautiful towering
cherries, including Avium fore pleno.
large double white flowers (rapid
| grower); Capronia rosea plena, double
: lowered pink: Mahaleb pendula, wide
spreading head with long, dropping
branches and fragrant white flowers;
Montmorency pendula, a droo ing
form of the edible cherry; Semperfior-
ems. bearing delicate white flowers in
| spring and again in September (the
foliage is also beautifully. Sieboldi alba
fore pleno, double white flowers, tinged
with rose, appearing in April. Sem
| pct pChuuiety uCht ahu
fruit, more or less. throughout the
summer. Pennsylvanicum is a native,
low. bushy tree that is worthy Of more
general use. 1t flowers profusely,
bearing red fruit. The bark OF this
tree Is quite attractive.
The double Towering peach, prunus
! persica, gives a quicker and more
snowy result than any other flower
ing tree. 1t may be had bearing white,
| pink or red flowers.
The Towering apple, pyrus malus,
is a dwarf tree. with single or dou-
! BILE. pink. white or red flowers. good
for planting among shrubbery.
The Japanese ounce is a vigorous
shrub, growing about twelve feet high.
bearing large pink flowers In May and
good sized fruit. suitable for jelly.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-27

The weeping Japanese cherries were
in full boom in Essex county, New
Jersey. on April 20, and the trees were
magnificent. There are many fine
specimens Of these trees In Llewellyn
Park. The dogwoods also were CROWN
ed with flowers.
Double Towering Chinese crab
apples are very beautiful when in
flower and are not very common.
The small trees are covered in spring
with a mass Of deep rose colored
flowers.
The habit Of the tree is very branch
ing, the branches ascending. 1t lends
itself particularly to use for cut bloom
with no disadvantage to the tree, as
It seems to be benefited by pruning
while in flower. Some varieties pro-
duce an abundance Of fruit-orange
yellow and red-from which the IA
nous Chinese apple" jelly il made.
There are rose and red Powered va
rieties.
The double Towering apple. pyrus
ioensis or Bechtel's crab, is a native
American apple, double form Of
the wild crab. 1t flowers late. when
he tree is in full leaf. The Chinese
farieties flower before the leaves ap-
lear. When allowed to grow at will
t'echtel's crab forms a we'll shaped
urge bush and maintains this habit.
The season OF Towering Of the Japa-
nese cherry can be extended over
bout a month by planting early and
late varieties. In summer the trees
are attractive, the glossy green leaves
2resenting an appear nee equal to any
" our shade trees.
Most varieties Of the Japanese cher
ries are rather dwarf. some varieties
are weeping, but some are tall. almost
as large as a maple. One variety 10
upright like the Lombardy poplar, use
sul in formal gardens.
Ernest II. Wilson, In "Aristocrats Of
the Garden" says that in japan the
color Of the flowers OF the cherries are
white, yellow, pink and rose-colored.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-27

fountain. with long, heavy branches,
covered thick with crimson flowers
It was a sight for the neighborhood.
or course the plant Is common enough,
but I never saw anything like that
before or since.
I can recount no successes either
with the more common or the newer
varieties, for I am strictly back
number" and now shut in," but
some one may be interested enough to
dig UP the old favorites. as they have
done with the crab cactus and the
tree mignonette.--Mrs. Mary l.. Hal
lock. Jamesburg, N. ].
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-27
MANY NEW AMERICAN HAW
THORNE.

The announcement comes from the
Arnold Arboretum that seven hundred
and fifty native American Hawthorne
have now been discovered. raised and
named under the direction of Prof.
Charles s. Sargent, director Of that ia
nous institution. This means that the
first long step has been taken in one
Of the most important and interesting
horticultural Investigations ever un.
dertaken in this country. Eighteen
years ago only sixteen species of the
American Hawthorn were known to
botanists. 1t was thought that a few
more might be discovered. but proba-
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-27
EXPERIENCE WITH ROSES.

bought seventeen climbing roses.
planting fifteen Of them on the edge Of
a bank to be trained on wire for a
hedge fence. The soil was sand.
The two others were planted one on
either side Of the south porch. the soil
gravel, clay and sand. The entire sew
enteen were fertiliyed with stable
manure and all had full sunshine.
The fifteen along the bank made very
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-27

Grown on good soil and properly
handled, sweet clover makes fair
quality Of hay. which may in many
cases be substituted with advantage
.or the more valuable alfalfa and clo-
yer hays.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-27

Geranium and dahlia cuttings must
not be over watered. 1t will cause the
cuttings to damp Off.