FLOWERING PLANTS 111 



Cultivate to a depth of at least four inches close to 

 the plants until blooms appear ; then stir the surface soil, 

 always keeping a layer of loose earth on the surface. 

 As a rule, watering will not be necessary if the ground 

 has been cultivated carefully. In case the soil should 

 become dry, give it water enough to reach down to the 

 roots, and cultivate soon after. 



To increase the size of the flowers late in the season, 

 give each of the plants a handful of garden fertilizer or 

 a quart of liquid manure. Water thoroughly to carry 

 the fertilizer down to the roots. 



When the foliage is destroyed by frost, cut off the tops 

 just above the ground and dig up the roots. After dry- 

 ing in the sun three or four hours, store the roots in a 

 cellar where the temperature does not fall below fifty- 

 five degrees. If the roots shrink, cover them with several 

 thicknesses of paper and sprinkle the paper with water. 

 If they begin to sprout during the winter, they are too 

 moist. 



THE ENGLISH DAISY 



The English daisy (Bellls perennis) is excellent for edg- 

 ing flower beds and borders. It is sometimes planted in 

 the grass on lawns for early flower effect. It begins 

 blooming in May, and the flowering season may be 

 prolonged by cutting the faded blossoms. By keeping 

 the plant in good growing condition fresh flowers may 

 be had during the greater part of the summer. The 

 blossoms are double or semidouble, and the color varies 



