the things which proves the world is growing better. Did you ever try to estimate the 

 amount of money annually spent in the United States for flowering plants and shrubs ? 

 Add to this the immense sale of cut flowers, and it certainly runs into the millions of 

 dollars. But what a lamentation all over the land ! " I can't grow the pansy," " I can't 

 succeed with the carnation," "I'd give anything if I could succeed with the rose," etc. 

 It is really sad when we think of the multitude of people who freely spend money to 

 beautify their homes, and then/az7. If I can succeed in assisting such, certainly I shall 

 not have lived in vain. 



You should read every word in the article on "Blight" (see pages 44 to 49 inclusive), 

 before you peruse these instructions. Remember, there is no such disease as "blight." 

 Nothing happens to the human being, animal or plant without a cause. The normal 

 condition of all living things is health. Plants will "take cold," "catch disease" or suffer 

 from wounds like the animal creation. There can be nothing more elevating to children 

 and youth than the study of plant life. Cold winds will blast the leaves of trees in late 



Photo 142. 



spring or early summer. The excessive heat of summer will wither them if they are not 

 supplied with moisture. The pastures dry up in July and August, your roses give out, 

 your carnations fail to do anything for you, potato vines and pear trees "blight,"' etc. 

 Now what is the trouble? Are all these things diseased, or are a part of them "resting?" 

 That is what I will try to make clear to you. The cause of all these happenings is the 

 same, namely : the destruction of the minute fibrous roots. The visible fibres were once 

 called "spongioles," but the microscope reveals workers smaller still. They are won- 

 derfully susceptible to injury. I again suggest that you read the article on "Blight." 

 You will find there how the various causes operate against these little laborers. 



You cannot succeed with the pansy in July and August, but they are not necessarily 

 diseased; they are resting. Read the article on the pansy. 



Your carnations do not thrive in hot weather. They also are resting. The carna- 

 tion, as you know, is much like the common garden pink. Their nature is such that they 

 do best in a moist temperature, ranging from 50 to 70 degrees, hence they_do their prin- 



68 



