FLOWER GARDEN AND LAWN. 



shoots cut back to within three or four 

 inches of the old growth as before described, 

 as well as by having the small weakly shoots 

 entirely removed. 



Hardy Roses. — At the present date, 

 March nth, with exceptionally mild weather 

 prevailing, it looks as if rose pruning would 

 have to be done very early this spring. 

 However, as a rule, the first week or ten 

 days in April is early enough, especially in 

 the northern sections of Ontario. Roses 

 should be pruned just as soon as the buds 

 show the slightest sign of growth. Prune 

 bush roses severely. New shoots of these 

 starting from near the surface of the ground 

 should be cut back so that they are from fif- 

 teen to eighteen inches in height. Young 

 shoots from old wood that is perhaps already 

 nearly eighteen inches or more in height, 

 should be cut back to within a few inches 

 of the old wood. Thin out altogether the 

 weak spindled growth as in the case of the 

 hydrangeas. Bush roses are benefitted by 

 severe pruning if the young wood only is 

 pruned. 



Climbing Roses should not be pruned so 

 severely. Thin out the very small weakly 

 growth and cut the strong canes back to five 

 or six feet in length. The length of these 

 canes must very largely depend on the posi- 

 tion they occupy. If on a trellis long canes 

 can be left, if grown on stakes the canes 

 should be pruned back more. About a 

 potind of bone meal or a small quantity of 

 hen or cow manure forked in around rose 

 bushes or flowering shrubs at this season 

 will help them considerably. The soil 

 should not be forked over, however, until it 

 has become fairly dry. 



Rose Thrip. — Do not forget that these 

 little white pests, that devour and despoil the 

 foliage of the roses later on in the summer, 

 should be attended to early in the season. 

 Give your rose bushes a sprinkling of strong 

 tobacco water or tobacco dust as soon as thi 

 first leaves are developed. Don't leave it 



until you see the thrip ; it is often too late 

 then. A very dry cigar powdered up fine 

 makes a good tobacco powder for roses. Or 

 pull a cigar to pieces, place it in a jar or 

 dish, and pour about a quart of boiling water 

 on it. Allow the solution to cool, when it 

 can be sprinkled on the roses. This solu- 

 tion can often be obtained easily, when raw 

 leaf tobacco or stems cannot be had to make 

 the above solution. Sprinkle the bushes 

 every week or ten days until the buds com- 

 mence to open with the tobacco solution. 



Any bare spots on the lawn should have 

 a little fresh fine earth raked in on them and 

 some lawn grass seed sown as early as possi- 

 ble. Roll the lawn as early as possible. Do 

 not let it get too dry and hard before putting 

 the roller on. Get your lawn mower sharp- 

 ened early before the busy season com- 

 mences. 



All winter covering used for plant protec- 

 tion, as well as all dead foliage, etc., should 

 be removed and burned as soon as the 

 weather permits of this being done. 



Seed Sowing. — Almost all varieties of 

 flower seeds can be sown outside now, as 

 soon as the soil is dry and in proper condi- 

 tion. Portulacca, nasturtium, balsam, cobea 

 scandens and possibly poppies, would how- 

 ever be better if not sown until late in April 

 or early in May. Sow all garden seeds 

 when the soil is fairly dry, and not when it 

 is wet and sticky. Sow sweet peas as early 

 as possible, a little frost will not hurt them. 

 VKGETABLE G.\RDEN 



Asparagus. — Fork over the asparagus 

 bed as soon as the frost is out, and the soil 

 at all dry enough. Give the bed a good 

 coat of salt afterwards. A bushel of salt to 

 about every rod of ground will not be too 

 much. Asparagus plants like salt, and it 

 keeps down weeds as well as being a ferti- 

 lizer. For a city or cottage garden aspara- 

 gus is best grown in beds, but for the farm 

 garden in long rows. Every farmer should 

 have plenty of asparagus, if only for home 



