280 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



they may be carefully trimmed deal sticks, that can be purchased 

 in bundles of a hundred at from a few pence up to several shillings 

 a bundle. They may be either plain or painted green, The 

 painted sticks are less obtrusive, but they are slightly more ex- 

 pensive. The economically disposed gardener can, however, get 

 along quite conveniently with the plain deal sticks if he take 

 pains to conceal his handiwork during the operation of staking, 

 or he can paint the stakes himself. 



An adequate supply of bast or raffia-tape the latter is coloured 

 green, and can be purchased in skeins or reels should also be 

 obtained. Thus armed, the successful tying and staking of his 

 plants depends entirely on the skill displayed by the gardener. 



A few guiding principles ought to be kept in mind, and they 

 may be set forth as follows : 



(1) Whenever it be possible, so stake and tie a plant that the 



artificial support may at least be disguised even if it 

 cannot be kept from sight altogether. 



(2) Study carefully the growth of the plant, so that when it 



is fully developed the stake shall not be taller than the 

 plant itself. 



(3) A good rule is to have the stake two-thirds the ultimate 



height of the plant. This applies particularly to lilies, 

 whose appearance is utterly ruined if the stake protrude 

 above the graceful heads of flowers, which should be 

 allowed to arch over and bend downwards a little. 



(4) For tall, heavy flowers like dahlias, hollyhocks, del- 



phiniums, Gladioli and lilies see that the stakes are 

 driven into the ground to a depth of at least a foot or 

 eighteen inches. Press the soil round the base of the 

 stake firmly with the heel of the boot, and be thoroughly 

 satisfied that the stake is secure. 



(5) In tying the cardinal rule to observe is to make the plant 



secure in such a manner that its stem is left free to 

 develop. It should not be tied hi such a way that the 

 flow of the sap is checked in the slightest degree. There- 

 fore the principle of looping should be adopted. 



