WIREWORMS. 



572 



WOODEN LABELS. 



at intervals a considerable length of wire 

 would unavoidably sag or hang down in 

 the centre, presenting a curved line instead 

 of a straight one. These eyes are made in 

 lengths varying from i inch to 6 inches, 

 and are sold according to length, at prices 

 ranging from 2d. to is. 6d. per dozen. At 

 D is shown the method for fastening and 

 straining the wires. A holdfast similar in 

 form to A and B, but having a hole through 

 it large enough to take a slight bolt threaded 

 at one end with a screw instead of a pierced 

 flange, is driven into the wall in the proper 

 position, the wire is twisted into an eye at 

 the end of the screw bolt, and the threaded 

 end is passed through the hole in the hold- 

 fast, and a nut worked on to the screw. 

 By turning the nut with a small wrench 

 the wire can be drawn to a sufficient degree 

 of tightness. The terminal holdfasts are 

 supplied A at 2s. and B at 2s. 6d. per 

 dozen ; the straining bolts and holdfasts at 

 35. 3d. per dozen ; and the wire, which is 

 galvanised and of the best quality, at is. 

 9d., 2s., and 2s. 6d. per length of 100 yards, 

 according to size. When gardens are 

 fenced with wooden pailings, or enclosed 

 by boarding nailed to posts and rails, it is 

 better to adopt this mode of training trees, 

 stretching the wire from post to post. 

 When this is done, staples may be used 

 instead of holdfasts and driving eyes. 



Wireworms. 



If any bed or favourite plant suffers much 

 from wire worm, a good trap may be made 

 by placing small potatoes with a hole in 

 them just under the surface of the ground, 

 at different intervals. The wireworms will, 

 in general, prefer this to any other food, 

 and a daily examination will serve to entrap 

 a great many of them. 



Wistaria (not. ord. Leguminosa). 



A genus of hardy climbing deciduous 

 plants, which grow freely and are highly 



ornamental on a house or wall, both for its 

 foliage, which somewhat resembles that of 

 the ash, and its long racemes of purple or 

 white flowers, which in form are very like 

 the blossoms of the laburnum. They thrive 

 in any good garden soil, and are best pro- 

 pagated by layers put down in June or 

 July, which will be found to be rooted and 

 removable the following year in the spring. 

 The best known is Wistaria Sinensis, of 

 which there are three or four varieties, one 

 having double flowers, and another varie- 

 gated foliage. 



Wooden Flower Sticks. 



Sticks should only be used when abso- 

 lutely necessary, for they are not orna- 

 mental. When needful, they should be 

 concealed as much as possible and firmly 

 fixed. Slicks painted green are the least 

 conspicuous of those made by hand, but 

 natural sticks cut from the hedges are 

 more desirable. The following are the 

 approximate rates at which made sticks are 

 supplied per 100 according to length : 



foot 



Plain. Painted. 

 s. d. s. d. 

 1626 

 a o 30 

 3040 

 3646 

 4056 



3i foot 



ii " 



5 ,, 



Plain. Painted. 

 s. d. s. d. 

 5676 

 6680 

 7696 

 6 10 6 



Wooden Labels, &c., Preserva- 

 tion of. 



The following recipe for the preservation 

 of wooden labels, number sticks, &c., is 

 taken from Gardening Illustrated : 

 Thoroughly soak the pieces of wood of 

 which they are made in a strong solution 

 of sulphate of iron ; then lay them, after 

 they are dry, in lime water. This causes 

 a formation of sulphate of lime (a very 

 insoluble salt) in the wood, and the rapid 

 destruction of the labels by the weather is 

 thus prevented. Bast, mats, twine, and 

 other substances used in tying or covering 



