IN MY LADY'S GARDEN 



the soil ; for growing in boxes on a balcony they are most 

 desirable, too. They are not too particular as to soil, but 

 no wireworms must be present in it, as these insects are 

 their special enemies, and soot in the proportion of one- 

 twentieth of the whole (<y less) may be added with advan- 

 tage to a compost of good loam, two parts to one part of 

 leaf mould, when these plants are grown in pots or boxes. 

 Fresh manure is most undesirable, as it is sure to contain 

 insects ; but thoroughly dried material from a hot-bed may 

 be added with advantage, or Clay's Fertiliser in small 

 quantities. 



It is a good plan to mix this compost some weeks before 

 it is needed, adding the soot (and in the case of heavy soil, 

 sand and charcoal, or old mortar crushed), and allowing the 

 whole to become quite dry, when all insects will die or 

 leave it, and the soil may be safely used. 



Many plants now require staking, and much tidying up 

 is needed in the garden to keep pace with the falling roses, 

 the fading Canterbury bells, foxgloves, and sweet peas, all 

 of which should be cut off before they produce seed, if a 

 succession of their flowers is desired. 



For liliums (and other tall flowers producing foliage on 

 the stems) West's grip stakes are excellent, as they are pro- 

 vided with movable pieces of metal which clasp the stem of 

 the plant ; and for tall dahlias wooden stakes, placed in 

 position when the roots are planted, are necessary. 



Staking is a fine art which should be thoroughly mastered 

 by those who love their flowers. The forest of sticks too 

 often to be seen in chrysanthemum pots should be avoided 

 at all cost, for their stiff and ugly appearance is calculated 

 to spoil the look of any flower, however beautiful ; yet 

 blossoms must not be allowed to fall about, and various 

 plans of supporting them, and yet preserving their graceful 

 outline, must be adopted, according to their growth and 

 form. Much can be done by judicious looping of the 

 branches to one or two stakes near the stem of a chrysanthe- 

 mum, especially in the case of the decorative varieties, where 

 each individual bloom is of moderate size, and it therefore 



256 



