180 FLOWEES AND THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



bloom, and look gay for a long time. Cut down holly, 

 hocks, and daub tar on the cut stems to keep out wet. 



Take up all the old scarlet geraniums there can 

 possibly be found winter room for, because old plants 

 will flower earlier and more abundantly than the plants 

 from cuttings. If they are taken up early, and potted 

 in pots just large enough to hold the roots, cuttings 

 may afterwards be taken from them. 



Set in order all the flower beds and borders. Cut 

 down abundantly, and pull up all dead and dying 

 annuals, thin the shrubberies and screens, and clear 

 away dead and untidy looking matter of all kinds. 

 Carefully collect all this mass of foliage, chopping up 

 with a bill-hook such tough stuff as hollyhock stems, 

 and collecting dead leaves, as many as can be got 

 together, daily. This, even in a garden of medium size, 

 will soon be a large quantity. Throw it all in a heap, 

 pack it together, and turn it about, so that it will heat ; 

 for slight hot-beds, with inexpensive frames over them, 

 will cost very little, and the more you can have the 

 better will be your show of fine flowers next year, for 

 all the year round, with only a little management and 

 forethought. 



All herbaceous plants that have grown too large, and 

 straggling in growth, should be taken up, have the roots 

 divided, and be planted about, where they will produce 

 the best effect. Double rockets, purple and white, 

 should be so lifted, and put in a new spot once a year. 

 On no account put off transplanting evergreens ; 

 common rhododendrons will move well. 



When the beds are cleared make provision for gaiety 

 in spring by planting narcissus, hyacinths, turban 

 ranunculus and tulips. Beds of these edged with 

 crocuses of different colours look very nice. Abundance 

 of spring flowers, too, may be planted primroses, 

 polyanthus roots, alyssum, candytuft, arabis, and 

 aubrietia, will be done with in time to make room for 

 bedding plants next year. Plant also early tulips, 

 hardy cyclamens, hepaticae, red, white, and blue, snow- 

 drops, winter aconites, and dog's-tooth violets. Do not 



