504 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



these weeds ; bnt if the lawn is small, a thorough raking with a narrow 

 steel garden rake will destroy them, and a heavy raking will do the 

 lawn good. 



Bone meal, from 1.000 to 1.500 pounds to the acre, is a splendid fer- 

 tilizer for lawn grasses, but should be applied early in winter. Special 

 lawn fertilizers should be used in the beginning of the growing season. 

 If the lawn is treated every third or fourth year with a dressing of old. 

 well rotted manure, it will do very much better. If the manure is full 

 of weed seeds, rake heavily as soon as the weeds show. Most of the 

 weeds will be killed in this way and the rest will be killed by mowing. 



The pruning of ornamental trees and shrubs should be mostly done 

 in the winter mouths. All dead and diseased branches should be cut 

 away and all wounds covered with lead paint, coal tar or tree Avax. 

 Deciduous trees and shrubs, which bloom early in the spring, before or 

 with the leafing out, should be pruned after their flowering time is over, 

 in the spring. To this class belong the Lilacs. Weigelas, Mock Oranges, 

 Bridal Wreaths, Snowballs, Dogwoods, Japanese Quinces, ]\Iaguolias. 

 Flowering Almonds, Peaches, Plums, and Cherries. Roses should be 

 pruned now. all diseased and dead wood cut out, and also weak branches. 

 The Tea Roses, Hybrid Teas. Noisette, and Polyanthos roses should be 

 pruned so as to give fine, large flowers ; the weaker the plants the heavier 

 the cutting back. The Hybrid Perpetual or Monthly Roses should not 

 be cut back too much at this time. 



Flower beds should be well manured and spaded. Beds of bulbs or 

 for bulbs should have only well rotted manure. Roses, shrubs and other 

 flowers stand fresh manure, well spaded under, very well. 



Gladioli and Dahlias should be taken up and put away in a dry, cool 

 cellar over winter. Annual and perennial plants do better if beds for 

 them are changed every two or three years. 



Plants raised from seed sown in September — as Pansies, Daisies, 

 Candytuft, Pot I\Iarigolds. Sweet Alyssums, Snap Dragons— can be 

 planted in beds in any month in winter in our mild climate, and if no 

 plants are on hand the seed can be sown. Hardwood cuttings of roses 

 and shrubs can be easily rooted in the first three winter months. Hardy 

 annuals and perennials are better sown in seed boxes from the beginning 

 of December to the middle of January ; after that they can be sown in 

 the open e'round. Sweet Peas can be sown from September to February. 

 If Violets are to be transplanted the best time is right after flowering 

 is over. Tender annuals can be sown in boxes any time after January, 

 but should not be planted in the garden before April or ]\Iay. Lawn 

 grass is best sown in September and October, or February and ]\Iarch, 

 iaut can be sown any time during the winter months, especially if pro- 

 tected by a light mulch of well rotted manure. 



