THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 91 



Tie for Standard Roses.— The best and simplest is that invented 

 by Mr. Wilkinson, nurseryman, of Ealing ; it makes a capital strong 

 neat tie, and the plant is thoroughly secured. It is merely a band 

 of soaked straw, tied with strong string between the plant and the 

 stake, and again at the back of the stake. 



Varnish for Rustic Seats. — One quart of boiled linseed oil 

 and two ounces of asphaltum, to be boiled on a slow fire till the 

 asphalte is dissolved, being kept stirred to prevent it boiling over. 

 This gives a fine, dark oak colour, is not sticky, and looks well for a 

 year. Or, first wash the furniture with soap and water, and when 

 dry, on a sunny day, do it over with common boiled linseed oil ; 

 leave that to dry a day or two, then varnish it over once or twice 

 with hard varnish. If well done, this will last for years, and prevent 

 annoyance from insects. 



How to Turn Plants out of Pots. — Open a hole with a trowel, 

 and drop the pot into it, level with the general surface, and fill 

 round the pot so as to imbed it neatly, pressing the earth to it with 

 the hand, just as if the pot with the plant in it were to remain there. 

 Then give the pot a twist round and lift it out, and there will remain 

 a clear firm hole, ready for the ball that is to be dropped into it. 

 Place two or three fingers of the left hand on the soil of the pot, 

 make the palm of the hand into a hollow, so as not to break the 

 tender plant, turn the pot up, give the rim a gentle tap on the side 

 of the wheelbarrow, and presto ! you will have the ball neat and 

 complete in your hand, and have only to turn it over neatly into the 

 hole, which it fits exactly. Dress the earth up to it, and you will 

 have planted it without hurtiDg the tenderest spongiole of its many 

 juvenile roots. In re-potting and bedding out, whenever you wish 

 to keep the ball entire, proceed in the same way, and you will never 

 have an accident. When all are planted gather up the pots and 

 take care of them, another rule applicable to bedding generally ; give 

 a good watering, and the next day rake the surface over, and make 

 all neat and tidy. 



Gakdenee's Boots to Waterproof. — A pint of boiled linseed 

 oil, half a pound of mutton suet, six ounces of clean bees'-wax, and 

 four ounces of resin, are to be melted and well mixed over a fire. 

 Of this, while warm, but not hot enough to shrink the leather, with 

 ;i brush lay on plentifully over new boots and shoes, when quite dry 

 and clean. The leather remains pliant. The New EDgland fisher- 

 men preserve their boots water-tight by this method, which, it is 

 ?aid, has been in use among them above one hundred years. They 

 can thus stand in water hour after hour without inconvenience. 



( 'i:r< ki.ts to Poison. — Take one pint of oatmeal and two ounces 

 of arsenic, together with a little ground aniseed and caraway seed, 

 mixed with it. This should be laid on pieces of paper, in convenient 

 places for the crickets to partake of it. Also arsenic and honey may 

 be mixed together and laid about for them in the same way ; but 

 they Avill most readily partake of the former. 



Axnnii;i;.- Equal parts of gravel, well screened, and clean river 

 or pit nand. "With five parts of the mixture of gravel and sand, 

 mix one part of Portland cement. Mix with water, and apply two 

 inches thick. 



March. 



