SECRETARY'S PORTFOLIO. 449 



you have just purchased one of these stately and elegant plants at a green- 

 house. Of course it was in full bloom and a delight to all beholders; but, 

 unless you are willing to study its needs and are prepared to humor it, the 

 future blossoms will be few and far between. What shall you do? With 

 care it will retain its present appearance for several weeks. As soon as the 

 blossoms fade cut them off close to the petals, leaving the whole of the long 

 stalk upon the plant. I usually put a little earth upon the end of the stalk 

 to keep it from "bleeding." In time the bulb — it is very wise in its way — 

 will draw all the substance from this juicy stalk into itself, and thus reclaim 

 for future use what would have been wasted had you cut it near the root. 

 Many persons impoverish their bulbs of all kinds in this very manner. 

 When Nature has finished her work, the stem, like a withered leaf, will lie 

 limp and lifeless at the foot of the plant. As soon as your blossoms are cut 

 off re-pot your amaryllis in rich earth, set it in a warm, sunny place, and let 

 it grow for two months. Then, leaving it in the pot, set it aside to rest for 

 the same length of time, giving no water. At the end of this time you will 

 perceive that it is ready to grow again, for the bulb will show the points of 

 green leaves at its crown. Now give plenty of water, sun and heat, and you 

 will soon be delighted by a cluster of magnificent flowers. By treating the 

 plants in this manner you will have two seasons of bloom each year; and, by 

 careful arrangement of the two months' growth, two months' rest, and two 

 months' bloom, you can have the latter occur at any season you desire. 



Be sure and keep the entire bulb covered with earth. By leaving two or 

 three in one pot you will have two or more blossom-stalks at one time. 



Ee-pot in rich earth each growing season, as I have indicated, and you 

 need no farther fertilizer. 



Aspaeagus Tenuissimus. — The asparagus vine, says C. E. Parnell, is a 

 very valuable and interesting climbing vine for the window garden or con- 

 servatory, as a little neglect or ill-treatment will cause it no serious injury. 

 Its fine, dark green filmy foliage far surpasses in beauty any fern, and, 

 besides, it is of more rapid growth and far more easily raised. The foliage 

 stands without wilting for a long time after it is cut, and this is a great 

 point in its favor. It is easily cultivated and will soon become a general 

 favorite. 



Rose Cuttings. — The New England Homestead says rose cuttings taken 

 in November do the best. Rather hard, short-jointed shoots, with little 

 pith and of about the thickness of a small pen-holder, make the best cuttings 

 for inserting in the fall. Shoots that have borne bloom are usually harder 

 and less luxuriant than those that have not had flowers, and the former are 

 decidedly preferable for making new plants. They not only endure the 

 winter better than the softer growths do, and strike roots better, but they 

 make more floriferous plants than those that may be raised from portions 

 that have never produced flowers. Shoots of this year's wood that is brown 

 and hard should be cut off as close as possible to the last year's stem from 

 which they spring ; then the cuttings so taken should have the tops cut off 

 to a leaf (or where there has been one), with a bold yet dormant bud near it, 

 not to where a fresh shoot may be already starting, nor to where there is not 

 a round bud of thasize of a large pin's head, but the bud must be there, visible 

 yet quiescent. Tne cuttings may be from six to nine inches long, as they 



57 



