The Busy Woman s Garden Book 



spring and then transplanted ; probably this is the 

 better treatment providing the ground is not to be 

 ploughed too early, as some of the perennials die 

 down in the fall and may not appear above the 

 ground in time for very early transplanting. 



Evergi'een boughs make the best winter cover- 

 ing, especialty when rested against some support 

 with the tips downward, so as to shed rain. They 

 do not mat down into a sodden mass as do leaves 

 which have a tendency to smother and rot plants 

 with an evergreen crown of leaves, but protect 

 from sun and cold winds, at the same time ad- 

 mitting sufficient air to the plants to keep them in 

 good condition. 



When immediate effect is desired from hardy 

 perennials which must be produced from seed, 

 considerable time may be gained by planting the 

 seeds in flats in the house in early February, giv- 

 ing them as light a position as possible, a south 

 window being preferable, and transplanting the 

 little seedlings to the hotbed when that is started 

 in March or early April. This will often force 

 along the blooms and will certainly produce 



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