FOR THE FLOWER GROWER. 



351 



takes too much plant food from the bulb. 

 The leaves, also, are allowed to die down, 

 thus sending the strength back into the 

 bulbs. In this way good strong bulbs are 

 formed. 



" I always leave them in the ground over 

 winter. A liberal coat of manure is put 

 on after the ground freezes. If put on be- 

 fore the frost comes the ground heats and 



growth is stimulated. Late spring frosts 

 sometimes damage them. When left in the 

 ground all the year round hyacinths last 

 about three and tulips about seven years. 



" The ground might be utilized for some- 

 thing else if the bulbs were removed, but 

 that means a lot of work. I prefer to leave 

 them there and set a few plants among them 

 to add beauty after the bulb bloom is gone." 



CHRYSANTHEMUMS IN SEPTEMBER 



GEO. HOLLIS, BRACONDAI.E, ONT. 



CHRYSANTHEMUMS should now be 

 making great headway. The early 

 varieties will be swelling their buds and 

 should receive careful attention. Side 

 growths, as well as large growths from the 

 base of the plant, must be removed regu- 

 larly. The stems must be kept well tied 

 up, because no matter how good the flower 

 a bent stem spoils its value in the market. 



Some bone flour spread on the bench and 

 covered with about one inch of rotten 

 manure, helps the plants, wonderfully. Good 

 cow manure is the best. 



The later varieties require much the same 

 treatment, but if they are making a soft 

 rank growth no manure should be added 

 until the flower buds begin to swell. In 

 case the plants are so soft that the sun 

 causes wilting, less water should be added 

 at the root, but syringing must be continued 



Walks should be artistically laid out on 

 each school lawn and be edged with bloom- 

 ing border plants. These would always 

 receive the tender care of the pupils and 

 thus 'by association they would learn to re- 

 isipect the flowers and shrubs of some one 

 who is " almost discouraged " because of 

 t'he vandalism practised by the youths of to- 

 day while on their way to and from school. 

 — (P. G. Keyes, Ottawa, Ont. 



just the same. Plenty of air,also, is needed. 



A thorough syringing with tobacco water 

 is required once or twice every week to 

 have the plants perfectly clean when the 

 flowers open. Fumigation is also good. 



The warning of last month regarding the 

 chrysanthemum fly on pot plants outside 

 needs to be repeated now. In some of my 

 seedlings this pest was busy taking the 

 points out of the growths, and the result 

 was the plants had to be removed. This 

 fly is the main drawback in growing 

 chrysanthemums outside. 



The plants grown in pots need plenty of 

 room. A supply of manure water twice 

 g, week helps them. Horticultural manure 

 is first class for this purpose, as it is clean 

 to handle. If the houses have been white- 

 washed or the plants shaded in any way the 

 shade should be removed during September. 



If we who have plants find them a de- 

 light, let us not be stingy with them, but 

 when we have one to spare give it to some 

 one who has none. Give the children cut- 

 tings to grow for themselves and so teach 

 them to love and care for flowers. The 

 finest coleus plant I have, and the little 

 geranium slip with the largest bunch of 

 blossoms, were planted by my little girl.— 

 (Mrs. W. J. McLenahan, Appleby. 



