io6 The Flower Garden [Chapter 



vate it in. The finest flowers are produced by pro- 

 tecting with an awning of thin cotton cloth after the 

 buds are fully grown though this would only be 

 desirable in the case of exhibition flowers. When 

 several buds appear in one place remove all but the 

 largest, as the difference in size will more than repay 

 for the loss in number, besides there is danger of all 

 blasting if allowed to remain. 



If worms or beetles appear on the buds they 

 should be sprayed with Paris-green solution one tea- 

 spoonful of Paris green to three gallons of water. 

 Should the borer that pest of the Dahlia, Aster, 

 and Cosmos appear, pour the Paris-green mixture 

 around the roots, soaking the soil to the depth of three 

 or four inches. Examine the stock of the plant near 

 the ground for the hole made by the borer. When 

 found run a flexible wire up the stalk to destroy the 

 worm and prevent further damage, and heap the 

 earth above the wound. If brought up to a point 

 above the wound, and kept moist, new roots will start, 

 thus insuring the recovery of the plant. If one has 

 previously been troubled with this worm it will be 

 well to anticipate matters, and, commencing when the 

 plants are a foot high, apply once a week a weak 

 Paris-green solution; continue this until the plant is 

 grown and the wood hardened near the ground. 



The fine mixed double Dahlias, the Cactus and the 

 magnificent single varieties, are all desirable for cut 

 flowers and effective in garden rows ; but for corsage 



