Chapter M: H. C

_Fort Riley, Kans._

The trap is the best known means of destroying moles, but of course it requires vigilance and patience and perseverance in its use, without these the trap is ineffective. Those who have tried poisoned corn say that it will effectually rid a place of moles. Soak the kernels in arsenic water and place them in the runways. Perhaps some of our readers may have some experience to state on this subject.

Pine Apple Air Plant.

Several inquiries have been received about the treatment of this plant. Those who are offering it in the trade advise that the roots be wrapped in moss and that the plant be wired upon a piece of bark or wood, that it be placed in the window, and frequently showered or sprayed. We have had no experience with it. The plant is a native of a hot and humid climate and it is somewhat doubtful that it will generally succeed in window culture. Unless the window is a bay, and enclosed with glass on the side of the room which it is off, and, moreover, well heated, it will probably in most cases prove a failure. Its family relationship is with the Spanish gray moss, and the pine apple.

Phyllocactus latifrons.

Your answers to correspondents in the “Letter Box” are so
helpful that I am led to ask for hints as to the treatment of
the night-blooming phyllocactus. I have one that blossomed
three or four times, but only a single flower at a time. It
seems to spend its strength in sending out long, round stems
two or three feet in length. I cut off one of these a few weeks
ago and it soon started again at the same spot and is now
three feet long. Ought these stems to be cut, and is there any
special treatment which will secure blossoms? An answer in your
interesting Magazine will much oblige

MRS. D. F. G.

_Norwich, Conn._

It is not advisable to remove the shoots as mentioned, a large and well branched plant is desirable, and in that condition it should be capable of producing more flowers. Give a rich soil with a mixture of sand, and water moderately. Let it have a position where it will have the sun a portion of the day.

Mammoth Freesias.

In reply to Mrs. J. F. S., in the January Magazine, concerning
mammoth freesias, I will say I have had them two years. I do
not find the bulb any larger than the ordinary variety but they
produce more flowers—I had from three to five clusters from
each bulb; they bloom about two weeks earlier and the flowers
are a little larger than the others. I like to grow them with
the others to have a succession of bloom. I have never failed
with freesias, and think Mrs. J. F. S. has made some mistake
in their treatment. Plant an inch deep in a rich soil, place
them in the dark until they have sprouted, then place next the
glass in a south or east window. Keep the pots in deep saucers
and fill the latter with _hot_ water every morning. One great
secret is to keep their feet warm. Many people do not give them
enough water, they require a great deal. If any remains in the
saucer from the day before throw it out and give fresh. If
water is poured on the soil it should always be warmer than the
air. In this way I have an abundance of large perfect flowers,
the clusters sometimes remaining perfect for three weeks. As
a last word, have good drainage and give plenty of heat and
water. I think your Magazine is invaluable.

MRS. C. H. J.

_Crestline, Ohio._

* * * * *

THE SWINE AND THE FLOWER.

I shrank to meet a mud-encrusted swine,
And then he seemed to grunt in accents rude,
“Huh! Be not proud, for in this fat of mine,
Behold the source of richness for your food!”

I fled, and saw a field that seemed, at first,
One giant mass of roses pure and white,
With dewy buds ’mid dark green foliage nursed,
And, as I lingered o’er this lovely sight,
The summer breeze, that cooled that southern scene,
Whispered, “Behold the source of Cottolene!”

—_M. E. Wilmer._

Wormy Raspberries—Violets—Storing Cauliflower.

Can you tell us how to prevent having wormy raspberries? For
the last two years ours have been worthless from being wormy.

I want to have a bed of violets. Must I use roots or can I get
seeds?

How can cauliflower be put away for the winter? We cut ours
from the stump, turned the leaves over the heads and packed
them closely together, but some of them have spoiled.

MRS. R. P. F.

_Beaver Dam, Wis._

We do not know what insect it is whose larva infests raspberries. If any of our readers can supply the information we trust they will give it.

Purchase the roots of violets, it is not practicable to raise them from seeds.

Cauliflower, like the strawberry, is good enough to be eaten when it is ready. It does not improve by keeping. The heads may be kept in a cool cellar for a considerable time if they are pulled up with some soil adhering to the roots, and set in rows in the cellar with the roots covered with soil. Tie the leaves together or turn them down over the heads.

* * * * *

=THE BROADWAY CENTRAL HOTEL=, New York, which has undergone a thorough rebuilding, is now open to the public.

This is altogether the largest hotel property in New York, and, with the present improvements, will have a valuation of nearly two millions of dollars and accommodate over one thousand persons.

Mr. Haynes, the new lessee, is making it a great popular house for families and business men, at popular rates, for which the location is admirably adapted. The new cable-cars on Broadway reach every fashionable store, theater and attraction of the city, and transfer with all cross-town lines, reaching every station, dock and ferry in town.

* * * * *

_Every reason why it should_

FIT

For Dr. Warner’s Coraline Corsets are made in 25 styles—modelled to fit every variety of form.

Wear the one that fits

YOU

Devoted to the profitable culture of flowers and vegetables.]

ROCHESTER, N. Y., MARCH, 1894.

_Entered in the Post Office at Rochester as “second-class” matter._

_=Vick’s Monthly Magazine= is published at the following rates, either for old or new subscribers. These rates include postage:_

_One copy one year, in advance, Fifty Cents._

_One copy twenty-seven months (two and one-fourth years), full payment in advance, One Dollar._

_A Club of Five or more copies, sent at one time, at 40 cents each, without premiums. Neighbors can join in this plan._

_=Free Copies.=—One free copy additional will be allowed to each club of ten (in addition to all other premiums and offers), if spoken of at the time the club is sent._

_All contributions and subscriptions should be sent to Vick Publishing Co., at Rochester, N. Y._

_ADVERTISING RATES._

_$1.25 per agate line per month; $1.18 for 3 months, or 200 lines; $1.12 for six months, or 400 lines; $1.06 or 9 months, or 600 lines; $1.00 for 1 year, or 1000 lines. =One line extra charged for less than five.=_

☞ _All communications in regard to advertising to Vick Publishing Co., New York office, 38 Times Building, H. P. Hubbard, Manager._

_Average monthly circulation 1893_, =200,000=.

SITUATIONS FREE OF CHARGE.

We are constantly receiving applications of people who desire gardeners and florists, and we have decided that hereafter we will publish advertisements of those who desire situations free of charge. Write copy plain and send by the first of the month for insertion in the next month’s Magazine.

A YELLOW-FLOWERED CALLA.

A visit a short time since to the famous greenhouses of our townsman, Wm. S. Kimball, where orchids mostly abound, favored us with a view of the rare yellow-flowered calla, Richardia Elliottii. Although we had carefully read the description of this plant we found it really more beautiful than the image we had formed of it. The plant in appearance is much like that of the common calla, Richardia Africana, except that the leaves are spotted all over with white spots. The flower spathe is of good size and form, and of a pure canary yellow color. It will prove to be a grand companion to the common calla and is destined to be widely cultivated. At present the plants are very scarce and expensive and it will be some time before they can be very freely offered.

OUR NATIVE GRAPE.

There has recently been issued a treatise by this title, on grapes and grape culture by Charles Mitzky, of this city. Its main feature is the very full list of hardy grapes cultivated in this country with their description, origin and history as far as known, and numerous illustrations and colored plates. Over eight hundred varieties are described, thus bringing together nearly all that have so far been produced or made public. The work also contains chapters on planting, pruning, cultivating, training, fertilizers, diseases and noxious insects and their remedies, harvesting, storing, marketing and a brief account of wine making, in fact almost everything of interest to the grape-grower is here treated, some of the chapters being contributed by prominent scientists and horticulturists.

THE PLANT BED.

The enterprise in getting out the artistic and truly beautiful Floral Guide, and sending it into our homes during the inclement weather of these winter days, when we have time to sit by the fireside and study its pages, enables us, against the time to plant seeds, to know exactly what we would like to have among vegetables and flowers. This beautiful compendium of vegetables and flowers came as a herald of the new year, and as the new year seems always to bring the spring season near, so it naturally fills the mind with the pleasurable anticipations of the task of seed planting.

The plant beds are little squares made of very rich soil, black and friable, with sand intermixed, on the sunny side of the garden palings that have a solid base board, or a wall or house, to afford protection. The rich soil makes a good bottom heat for forcing gentle growth. My old colored mammy, who always saved the garden seeds and gave them out as needed and directed the gardening operations on the plantation, had the plant beds made on each side of the garden gate, one set of little beds for early vegetable plants, the other for flowers. The soil thoroughly pulverized, and the seeds planted thickly, it is surprising how they would spring into life, and the rapidity with which they would grow. Thick planting of seeds is only to be advised when they are intended for transplanting. I have seen the cabbage bed so full of plants that it seemed as if two plants or more had sprung from every seed. Early and late cabbage, the rows labeled, can be planted in the same bed; lettuce, pepper grass, parsley and radishes in another, taking care to sow the radish seed thinly as the plants will not transplant well, and the radishes must be used for the table taken from the place where the seeds are sown. Cabbages grow better when the small plants are transplanted to the large bed where they are to stand for their season’s growth.

After these early vegetable plants have been set out, later on tomato and egg plant seeds can be sown in the same beds. Nothing is gained by forcing these latter, for in my experience certain vegetable and flower seeds do better planted late, as the heat of summer is needed for their development.

The plant bed can be made and planted early in the season. Here in the South many persons plant in “old Christmas,” the first twelve days after New Year, but February or March is better, I believe.

The flowers that do so well in company with these vegetables are sweet alyssum, nemophila, mignonette, snapdragon, candytuft, verbena, sanvitalia and petunias. Japanese pinks and Marguerite carnations, Phlox Drummondii and poppies are better planted where they are to bloom as they do not transplant well. Sweet alyssum and nemophila begin to bloom when about an inch high, and can be transplanted at any stage of growth, even in bloom; they are sweet little flowers that make lovely borders, cute little jars, beautiful hanging baskets, and when planted in the sides of jars that contain large plants, hang over the sides in masses of bloom. The speckled pretty little blue nemophila always makes me think of birds’ nests full of speckled eggs in the cool green grass. Sweet alyssum I love too well to write about; it would sound like exaggeration.

Petunias do well in the early beds, but also flourish and bloom finely if their planting is deferred until the torenia, portulaca, cypress, zinnia, tageta and real midsummer flowers are planted. None of these last do any better for early planting. They will not bloom until their season, summer, no matter how early they are planted. The beautiful fall bloomer, cosmos, may be classed with them. Snapdragons, carnations and verbena do not bloom in early spring from seed, but require an early start to bloom in summer as their growth is not rapid. Sanvitalia, vinca, and a long list of annuals are beautiful and well worth raising. Annuals are cheap, but they subserve a purpose and nothing quite takes their place, and I confess to a liking for flowers which I have raised from seeds. It is easy to exaggerate the beauty of anything that stands in striking contrast to its surroundings, but these plant beds early in the season, green and growing, ahead of everything else, are as pretty as a picture, and the young, crisp, green vegetables are suggestive and appetizing.

If twenty-five years of putting Mr. Vick’s seeds in the ground does not entitle me to render a verdict in their favor as the best to be had, then experience counts for nothing. A sure return for every seed put in the ground is the answer they give to the question “What shall the harvest be?”

Further north, doubtless, cold frames are better for early planting of seeds, but in the South the plants are more healthy and stand transplanting much better for exposure to the moderate cold of the early season in their rich, warm little plant beds.

MRS. G. T. DRENNAN.

_Lexington, Miss._

* * * * *

MARCH WORK.—At this time, the dividing line between winter and spring, finish all the pruning in the open grounds. Grape vines, fruit trees, deciduous hedges, and roses and many other plants will need attention. In this climate sow peas as soon as the ground can be put in order. Start hotbeds, and cold frames. Look after those flower seeds which should be sowed early in the house.

* * * * *

HELPS IN ECONOMY.

Stylish Gowns of Handsome Color at Small Cost—Diamond Dyes Make Old Clothes Look Like New—Two Useful Books Given Away.

With a few packages of Diamond Dyes wonders can be done in making old dresses, gowns, and suits look like new. Many families have not bought a single new dress, wrap, or suit this winter, yet they dressed well and fashionably, by dyeing their clothes with Diamond Dyes.

Those who buy one package as an experiment, find the dyes so easy to use that they color over gowns, cloaks and suits for the whole family. The Fast Black Diamond Dyes are especially popular, being easy to use and making a rich black that will not fade, crock, or wash out.

COUPON.

This entitles any reader of Vick’s Magazine to one copy of
“Successful Home Dyeing,” and “Mats and Rugs; Art and Fancy
Work.”

For the home-dyer or rug-maker these books give complete directions with many illustrations. Send above coupon to Wells, Richardson & Co., Burlington, Vt. and both books will be mailed free.

DON’T FORGET THE POTATOES.

“An old lady sat in her old armchair,

For days and for weeks her only fare,
As she sat in her old armchair,
Had been potatoes.

But now they were gone, of bad or good.

And she thought of the deacon over the way,
The deacon so ready to worship and pray,
Whose cellar was full of potatoes.

She said, ‘I will send for the deacon to come.’

And the deacon came over as fast as he could,
Thinking to do the old lady some good,
But never for once of potatoes.

He prayed for patience, goodness and grace;
But when he prayed, ‘Lord, give her peace,’
She audibly sighed, ‘Give potatoes.’

So ending his prayers, he started for home,
The door closed behind, he heard a deep groan:
‘Oh, give to the hungry potatoes!’

And the groan followed him all the way home;
In the midst of the light it haunted his room;
‘Oh, give to the hungry potatoes!’

He could bear it no longer; arose and dressed,
From his well-filled cellar taking in haste
A bag of his best potatoes.

The widow’s heart leaped up for joy,
Her face was pale and haggard no more,
‘Now,’ said the deacon, ‘shall we pray?’
‘Yes,’ said the widow, ‘now you may.’

And would you hear this simple tale,
Pray for the poor, and praying, prevail?
Then preface your prayer with alms and good deeds;
Search out the poor, their wants and needs;
Pray for their peace and grace, spiritual food,
For wisdom and guidance—all these are good—
But don’t forget the potatoes!”

—_The Independent._

* * * * *

A CINCINNATI MIRACLE.

WHY MR. CHARLES B. NOBLE IS BEING CONGRATULATED.

A Remarkable Case of Being Completely Cured of Paralysis After Nearly Three Years of Suffering and Eminent Physicians Had Declared Their Best Efforts Baffled.

Newspaper men as a rule place little credence in patent medicine stories and seldom bother to even read them. This is not to be wondered at when it is taken into consideration how often they are called upon by unscrupulous persons to fabricate and publish stories of remarkable cures and perhaps print a picture of the mythical man or woman supposed to have been cured. That all medicine advertisements are not mere “fakes,” and that all newspaper men are not equally prejudiced is proven by a story published in the _Cincinnati Times-Star_ of a well-known newspaper man whose life was saved by reading an advertisement. So remarkable and interesting is the story that it is here reproduced as published in the _Times-Star_.

Mr. Charles B. Noble, the well-known litterateur, who has been suffering for nearly three years with paralysis, was upon the street to-day, cheerful and active and the recipient of congratulations from his many friends. There is a bond of unity between all newspaper men, so that Mr. Noble’s case appeals to every member of the craft as well as to every one afflicted as he was. Mr. Noble has spent the last three years in traveling from city to city seeking skilled physicians, to whom he has appealed in vain for relief. Knowing this, a reporter expressed surprise at the remarkable cure, but Mr. Noble, after executing a jig to show that he was as sound as he looked, let the reporter into the secret of his cure.

“It was a hard time I had of it,” said he, “but the last medicine we take is always the one that cures, and I have taken the last. I was paralyzed on March 9, 1890, while in the employ of the David Williams Publishing Company of New York City as their traveling representative from Cincinnati. I found the traveling a great help to me, both in a financial and a literary way, but suddenly stricken down as I was at Somerset, O., 150 miles from Cincinnati, I was incapacitated for both writing and money making. Luckily my literary productions had been remunerative, and I had a snug bank account laid up, but these three years have made a drain on it.

“I sought a score of physicians, going to the best specialists in Cincinnati, Chattanooga and Pittsburg. Twelve Cincinnati doctors, pronounced my case incurable, but I would not give up, and after seeking in vain for relief in Pittsburg and Chattanooga, consulted the best medical talent in Chicago. Up to January 17, 1893, I had spent $2,500 for doctors and medicine and was about to give up in despair when I got hold of Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills for Pale People, through reading the advertisements.

“From the first week of using the remedy I made a steady improvement, and on April 12, I put up my cane after using it thirty months. I certainly believe this medicine is all the proprietors claim for it, and that it will do all they say it will. I take pleasure in recommending it to all similarly afflicted. Like many who have tried medicine in vain I was doubtful of its value at first, and only used it when I grew desperate. Now I can not praise it too highly. It has restored me to health and strength and I feel grateful accordingly. Dr. Whittaker pronounced it a hopeless case of locomotor ataxia.

“Yes, I know there are many who will fancy anything you say about my case is an advertisement, but if they want any corroboration, let them address me at the Y. M. C. A. building, and I will cheerfully answer all inquiries if stamps are enclosed.”

Pink Pills, while advertised and handled by the drug trade as a proprietary article, are not considered a patent medicine in the sense that name implies. For many years previous to their general manufacture they were used as a prescription. At first their great restorative powers were not fully recognized and they were chiefly prescribed for impure blood and general weakness. Their remarkable success in such cases, and the fact that there was nothing in the formula that could do any harm, even if they did not do any good, led to their being tried in cases where the skill of the physician and the power of medicine had entirely faded. Their power of restoration seemed to border on the marvelous. They proved to be a never-failing specific for such diseases as locomotor ataxia, partial paralysis, St. Vitus’ dance, sciatica, neuralgia, rheumatism, nervous headache, the after effect of La Grippe, palpitation of the heart, pale and sallow complexions, and all diseases of the blood such as scrofula, chronic erysipelas, etc.

They are also a specific for troubles peculiar to females, such as suppressions, irregularities, and all forms of weakness. They build up the blood and restore the glow of health to pale and sallow cheeks. In case of men they effect a radical cure in all cases arising from mental worry, overwork or excesses of whatever nature.

Pink Pills are sold in boxes (never in loose form, by the dozen or hundred, and the public is cautioned against numerous imitations sold in this shape) at 50 cents a box or six boxes for $2.50, and may be had of all druggists or direct by mail from Dr. Williams’ Medicine Company, Schenectady, N. Y., or Brockville, Ont. The price at which these Pills are sold makes a course of treatment inexpensive as compared with other remedies or medical treatment.

GROWING ONION SETS.

While the practice of growing onions directly from seed is becoming more extended all over the country, still the time will never come probably when the old-time practice of growing the crop from sets will be done away with, especially in the South. With the constantly increasing acreage devoted to this splendid esculent it is quite likely more onion sets will be raised and planted ten years hence than there is at this time. Southern truckers and market gardeners, along with those who only grow simply for home use, will continue to use sets for growing the first crop which is used or marketed in a green or unmatured state. Thousands of acres are yearly planted in the South, putting out the sets anywhere from September to November, both inclusive. Most any “tyro” in gardening can grow a crop of onions from the sets where only failure would result if the seeds were used. There is hardly anything surer than making “sets” grow, whereas it is not always sure that one gets onion seeds that are good and of such a variety as will make a good crop in our Southern climate. So much by way of preface.

The Southern gardeners and truckers depend almost entirely upon the Middle and Northern States for their onion sets, although it is quite practicable for them to raise their own sets if they choose to do it. The Southern trucker it seems as a rule, however, would prefer to have others grow his sets for him. This is all very well when he can buy them at $1.50 to $2.50 a bushel, but oftentimes he has to pay twice this sum for his sets, occasionally three times. There is an advantage in the trucker growing his own sets. He can grow just the variety that better suits our climate, sets of which he cannot always get with any certainty. The several varieties of Italian or Spanish onions are far preferable for the South—kinds like the New Queen, Rocca, Early Nocera and some others, these do much better than the American varieties.

_How to raise the Sets._—There are two ways of growing—broadcast or in drills. The latter is to be preferred. For the purpose choose medium land, not very rich in humus or nitrogen, but as clean land as possible. Sowings can be made any time from February 15 to April 15. Plow the soil and harrow it and run a light roller over it. Lay off shallow drills fifteen to twenty inches apart. These shallow drills, not deeper than a quarter of an inch, should be _one and a half or two inches wide_. Just prior to sowing whiten these drills with landplaster. Using the freshest seed attainable, sow the seeds carefully along the drills at the rate of twelve to fifteen to the square inch. Cover lightly with a rake and then run a garden roller over the drills. If the seeds are good there will be a pretty show of onions in the course of ten days. Cultivate very shallow and just enough to keep down all weeds. Any weeds coming up in the drills must be hand-pulled.

When the small onions later on show signs of maturity go along and pull them and let them lie until well cured. Then take up and spread rather thinly in the coolest, dryest place possible. They can be spread out under any outhouse if safe from poultry, etc. If put in a loft, or where there is much light, spread a slight layer of straw over the sets. Do not wait until the onions _die down_ before pulling, but pull just as soon as the tops show a little yellow. As remarked, these sets will be planted out again in September and October, and as late as November 15.

This is a brief statement of procedure. The directions followed, there will be no good reason for failure _if the seeds are good_.

S. A. COOK.

_Milledgeville, Ga._

* * * * *

MUSIC WITHOUT A TEACHER

(EUREKA METHOD.)

Organ,
Piano,
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=Winner’s “Eureka” Instruction books= do for you =just what a teacher would do=. With the Winner Instruction Book for any instrument, you can learn to play any simple, easy piece of music on that instrument as =quickly as by employing a teacher once a week=.

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Besides the instruction pages, each book contains nearly a hundred well-chosen pieces for that especial instrument. This alone would cost from $2.00 to $3.00 if purchased separately.

They are intended for pupils living at a distance from the music teacher, or those whose means will not enable them to employ one.

In ordering ask for =Winner’s “Eureka” Method=, and state for what instrument it is wanted. Any one of the volumes will be mailed, postpaid, on receipt of choice.

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