White Flowers 197 



tiny awl-shaped leaves, and numerous snow-white flowers, borne all 

 along the branching stems making compound panicles eighteen inches 

 across. As it blooms until the heavy frosts and is a mass of feathery 

 white flowers, it makes a valuable addition to the autumn garden. 

 Give a rich moist situation. Propagate by division of root, which 

 spreads extensively. 



BOLTONIA (B. asteroides) . 5-7 ft. A plant resembling the Aster, 

 of erect, hardy growth, bearing numerous heads of white flowers with 

 yellow centers. Also blue and pink varieties. Propagate by seed and 

 division of the root. It spreads badly, but can be planted among 

 shrubbery. It blooms until late frosts. See Blue and Pink Per. Sept. 



CLEMATIS. Japanese (C. paniculata). 6-20 ft. The most desirable 

 of all vines, making a vigorous growth of glossy green foliage, and 

 covered through the autumn with loose feathery clusters of fragrant 

 white flowers. Needs a deep rich moist soil, sun and a mulch through 

 the summer. Propagated by cuttings made of half-ripened wood cut 

 up at every eye, or by scraping the bark a little and layering the branches. 

 If well watered, in the course of a year the cuttings will root at the 

 joint covered, which may then be severed and planted before the growth 

 begins in the spring. This vine is infested by two species of large 

 rapacious beetles in the early autumn. See MINE ENEMIES, p. 126-7. 

 They should be scraped into a can of water with a little kerosene in it. 



DAHLIA (D. variabilis). 3-6 ft. Many varieties of Cactus, Pompon 

 and Peony-flowered in white. While not a hardy plant, Dahlias are a 

 favorite with many, and are easily grown. They are raised from seed 

 or by division of the root, which is a cluster of tubers; but care must be 

 taken that each division has an eye or bud. These are not distributed 

 over the surface as the eyes of a potato, but are in a ring around the 

 collar of the root. In a dry state these are not perceptible, and nursery- 

 men often plant the whole root in a hotbed to start the eyes and then 

 divide it. The blind tubers (those without eyes), while plump and 

 healthy looking, will not start a growth. These are sometimes grafted 

 with a growing shoot of a choice variety, but it is a difficult process. 

 Dahlias should be started in gentle heat and planted out after all danger 

 of frost is over. Give a rich sandy loam, much sun and water. After 

 blooming, or when frost bitten, cut down and, a little later, on a dry 

 day, lift the tubers and dry in a shady airy place. Turn every day and 

 shake off the earth from the root. Store in sand or sawdust in a dry 

 cellar. 



