The Canadian Horticulturist. 329 



FALL WORK AMONG THE FLOWERS. 



^ ERANIUMS intended for winter blooming may now be started. 

 -^ The shoots used for this purpose should have bloomed once to be 

 sufficiently matured to insure freedom of growth and flowers imme- 

 diately. Six inches or thereabouts is the best length for a cutting of 

 this plant. No buds should be allowed to remain on cuttings when 

 set, nor should they be allowed to bloom before November. By 

 being thus kept back the plant will have acquired the needed 

 strength for perfect and profuse blooming. Geraniums require very little water, 

 and their tendencies to bloom are increased by excessively hot, dr)- weather ; 

 but little moisture should be allowed them, even when starting the cuttings, the 

 least excess causing the black rot to destroy them. 



Verbenas required for winter and early spring bloom must be potted now 

 while the days are warm, so as to be thoroughly rooted before cool weather. 

 Old stock verbenas should never be used for this purpose. It will be observed 

 that this plant throws out many long runners which, during a damp season, take 

 root at every joint touching the ground. The proper part for potting is the 

 plant that is obtained by cutting off a runner just back of where it has taken 

 root. The other or top end should be cut down to three or four inches. 

 These plants may be set in separate pots or several in a large pot. Fuchsias 

 may now be started with better success than during the warm months. Rose 

 cuttings may be set, and roses that have ripened their wood should, if they 

 require repotting or being removed from the open ground to pots, be changed 

 before fall rains induce new growth and buds. All plants requiring removal 

 will be found to endure the change much better if they are allowed to become 

 very dry before they are disturbed ; after potting, water thoroughly and shade 

 for a few days. We frequently remove plants from pots where they have 

 become very dry to the open ground or boxes, in the most sunny situations in 

 mid-summer, without their showing the least sign of having been disturbed. 



Chrysanthemums of the late blooming and tender varieties should now be 

 potted and pruned to a neat form. The tall growing sorts should be topped 

 down to about two and one-half feet. This will cause side branches to be 

 thrown out, and give the plant a stocky, tree-like appearance. If when the buds 

 begin to show two-thirds of them are pinched out, those remaining will make 

 much finer flowers than if all are allowed to grow. 



Dahlias should be pruned closely, and where more than one bud appears 

 on the end of a shoot they should be taken off", as also all seed vessels except 

 those required to be saved. The stalks of all gladioli and lilies that have done 

 blooming should be broken off", as the production of seed impoverishes the 

 bulbs, thus doing injury to future flowers. Balsams having the tip of each 

 branch and the main stem broken out will continue to bloom till frost. — Mrs. 

 J. T. P., in American Cultivator. 



