1876."' 



AND HOBTICULTUBIST. 



263 



worthy of the space. Ignorant Rhododendron 

 culture is a costly thing in America, but intelli- 

 gently pursued, nothing is more delightful. 



L1.4.TRIS PYCNOSTACHYA. — This magnificent 

 plant stood the dry and hot weather most tri- 

 umphantly. By the 1st of August it was in full 

 bloom, continuing the whole month. It will be 

 a fit companion to the Gladiolus when it becomes 

 well known. It flowers after it is one year old 

 from tiie seed, and is easily raised. 



QUERIEIS. 



Protection of Tea Roses in Winter.— L. F., 

 Belleville, Ills., asks : " Having heretofore failed 

 to find the proper method to keep my Tea 

 Roses during winter, I propose the coming sea- 



son to fasten the branches to a stake and sur- 

 round them with straw, making a mound of coal 

 ashes over the roots. Would not such a plan 

 keep the plants dry, and protect them from 

 freezing ? If you will give your valuable opin- 

 ion on that subject, you will much oblige me 

 indeed." 



[The putting on and taking off of earth or 

 coal ashes in fall and s^jring is troubleuome 

 where there are many tea roses. It is better to 

 take them up late in the fall, cut away the im- 

 mature parts, choose a spot where water will not 

 lie, and then bury roots and tops in earth till 

 early in spring, when take up and replant. If 

 there are but one or two plants, and it is desired 

 to have handsome specimens, the branches may 

 be packed in with dry leaves, and a box placed 

 over the whole to keep the leaves dry and from 

 blowing away, just as in these parts we do Pam- 

 pas grass and some other things. — Ed. G. M.] 



'KEEN liaOUSE AND ?MOUSE GARDENING. 



SEASONABLE HINTS. 



Those who have greenhouses, pita or frames, 

 will now see to having any necessary repairs 

 attended to. White-washing annually is service- 

 able, destroying innumerable eggs of insects, in 

 the war against which the gardener should al- 

 ways take the initiative; sulphur mixed with the 

 whitewash is also serficeable. Poweiitul syrnig- 

 ing is a great help to keeping j)lants clean, and 

 should be frequently resorted to. 



One of the worst foes is the red spider, an in- 

 sect so small that few persons know of its exist- 

 ence till they are edlicated to it. With a small 

 lens they can be seen, living, red, dust-like dots, 

 very active, and usually traveling with great 

 rapidity over the leaves. But they are very de- 

 structive. Their presence is always indicated by 

 grey or whitish spots on the green leaves. When- 

 ever they are seen the leaves should be carefully 

 examined, and syringing with water and sprink- 

 ling with sulphur emploj'ed. 



Propagation of bedding plants for another 

 season will now be progressing actively. G#ra- 

 niums, and other things with firm wood, do best 



in sand spread on the open ground, with a glass 

 frame partially shaded spread over it. A great 

 benefit will be found in most cuttings if they are 

 placed for a short time in slightly damp moss 

 for a few daj-s before inserting the same, so that 

 the wood at the base of the cutting may be par- 

 tially healed or calloused over. Verbenas, and 

 such cuttings, can be kept but a few hours, un- 

 less the wood is very hard. The harder the 

 wood the longer they will do to keep so. Ripe 

 wood of some things will be benefitted by keep- 

 ing two weeks. All this must be found out by 

 each propagator himself 



It is a very good time to look around for soil 

 for potting purposes. The surface soil of an old 

 pasture forms the best basis, which can be after- 

 wards lightened with sand, or manured with 

 any special ingredients to suit special cases, as 

 required. The turfy or peaty surfaces of old 

 wood or bogs also come very " handy." A stock 

 of moss should also be on hand for those who 

 crock pots, in order to cover the potsherd ; moss 

 also comes in useful for many purposes con- 

 nected with gardening, and should be always on 

 hand. 



