156 THE PLANT WORI.D 



The Home Garden and Greenhouse. 



Conducted by Dr. F. H. Knowi^ton. 



[The editor of this department will be glad to answer questions of a rele- 

 vant nature, and also to receive short articles on any phase of this subject.] 



Watering Plants. — In the more southern portions of the country, or 

 for that matter in any part where extensive periods of dry weather are 

 liable to occur, it is often a matter of difficulty, where it is not possible 

 to use a hose, to keep certain plants supplied with the requisite amount 

 of moisture. In a small garden, for instance, where it is desirable to keep 

 a few hills of melons, squashes, cucumbers, etc., or plants of pepper, 

 egg-plant, and the like, it can be easily and economically done by half 

 sinking a 5 or 6-inch flower-pot in the middle of the hill or by the side 

 of a plant, which is filled once a day with water. This gradually seeps 

 through the sides of the pot or through the bottom hole and supplies the 

 requisite moisture without causing the baking of the soil that follows 

 watering on the surface of the ground. If flower-pots are not available, 

 an old tin can with several holes punched in bottom and sides makes a 

 fairly good substitute. 



Spraying for Insects. — It is too well known to need comment that all 

 our plants are subject to attacks of insects, and unle.ss prompt steps are 

 taken to subdue them the crop will prove a failure. The striped bugs and 

 so-called " stinking squash bugs " of cucurbitaceous plants, the cabbage 

 worm affecting all allies of the cabbage, the potato beetle, etc., must be 

 held in check or the plants may be ruined. This is easily done by 

 spraying with Paris green, which may be diluted with flour or plaster 

 and applied dry, or better with water, which can be applied with a water- 

 ing can or small sprayer, of which there are numerous effective kinds. 

 The cabbage, however, should not be sprayed with Paris green after the 

 heading-up has commenced, but the worms may be killed with ordinary 

 insect powder. Currants and gooseberries are easily cleared of the currant 

 worm by applications of white hellebore. 



Transplanting Holly. — There is perhaps no evergreen shade or small 

 tree that is more attractive when well grown than a good specimen of the 

 common holly i^Ilex opaca). This is usually considered a difficult bush 

 to transplant, but I have found that success may be made practically 

 certain if the leaves are removed when the plant is re-set. The best time 

 to transplant is early spring before growth has started, and after the 

 shrub is firmly set in its new position cut off every leaf with a pair of 

 shears and the percentage of loss will be very small. 



