BOOK OF THE HOME GARDEN 



but do not over-do the matter. These supports do 

 two things, they keep the plant off the ground, also 

 help it grow in its natural position, and they keep 

 the wind from working the roots loose in the soil. 

 A plant that is continually thrashed backwards and 

 forwards by the wind is given extra work to do for 

 the tiny feeder rootlets are broken off. 



Sometimes Lilies, Dahlias, Gladioli have to be 

 supported, but if they are planted deep enough they 

 are usually able to support themselves. 



If your supports are good keep them from year 

 to year, tie them in a bundle in the fall, and put 

 them away with your garden tools. 



One of the very nicest supports for annual vines 

 that I know of is the Christmas tree. I must tell 

 you a little story of the first one we used. We had 

 just moved out of the city and had our first wee 

 garden, so of course the neighbors thought we did 

 not know much about gardening and were very 

 glad to help us by gazing over the hedge and telling 

 us what to do and what not to do. 



One spring day we planted the Christmas tree, 

 which we had carefully saved, right in the middle of 

 one of the garden beds. The neighbors soon came 

 to tell us it would not grow as it had no roots. We 

 smiled and said, "Oh, yes, it will bloom in the mid- 

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