40 THE GARDEN 



We have found this method rather better than that of placing straw 

 or hay close to the stems, in flat layers, leaving six inches or so of the top& 

 to be winter killed. We, instead, clip off these straggly tips, then close in 

 the top of the bush completely, thus keeping out every degree of frost pos- 

 sible. Too close wrapping will cause the buds to swell, often, during an 

 unusually warm spell of weather. This is always disastrous, because the 

 next severe stretch of frost will nip off the swollen buds. 



Again, too close coverings will allow of the wintering of certain pests, 

 such as the rose bug, or the Aphis fly — a thing to be deplored, because all 

 pests have the power to increase with amazing rapidity in the warmth of 

 winter coverings. 



SALVIA 

 Red and Blue 



The salvias are the perennial sages. This statement will give some 

 who do not know this salvias, but who do know the sages — will give an 

 idea of the character of the leaves and general appearance of the bush. 



The red flowering salvias have grown to be quite favorites during the 

 last few years. Many people do not know, however, that there is a blue- 

 flowering variety. 



Salvia pratensis is the blue meadow sage, which flowers from early in 

 May until rather late in July. 



The scarlet salvia is one of our most brilliant and startling red flowers 

 grown in present day gardens. I know only one other such burning flower, 

 and that is the scarlet lightening. 



The red salvia has a thick square stem, like all the mints or sages; 

 coarse, sage green, hairy, saw-toothed leaves, deeply ribbed and furrowed. 



The flowers grow on long, slender stems, quite two and three feet tall. 

 Belonging to the labiate, or two-lipped flowers, the blossoms are simply 

 long "horns of plenty" for the seed, that are drawn to the flower by the 

 bewitching barbaric color, that strikes and holds the eye from a long dis- 

 tance. Like drops of dripping, fresh, gleaming blood, or tiny points of 

 burning flame — oh! there is no describing the flowers! 



A true midsummer flower, you will find your scarlet sages blooming 

 until the frost comes along and nips everything black. 



One of the best uses you can put this plant to, is the hiding of an 

 unsightly fence or bordering a carriage walk. Planted in numbers, thickly 

 in long lines, you will have a mass of burning flame that will continue 

 to burn until the eye wearies of it. The cool, strong green of the leaves 

 however, forms a welcome relief. 



Sow your seeds in open ground, early in April. Not sooner will the 

 frost have left the ground, or will sufficient warmth have come to the soil 

 to start germination. When the young plants are four or five-leaved, you 

 may transplant to their selected places. After that, it is but a matter of 

 careful spraying to keep the leaves fresh and give enough moisture for 

 the heavy growth. 



SWEET WILUAM 



(Dlanthus Bar). 



The old-fashioned Sweet William belongs to the pink family, altho 

 many people are not aware of this fact. It is called the bunch pink, prob- 

 ably from the manner in which the small florets are arranged in a close 

 cyme, or head, borne at the top of the stem. 1^ 



iSach tiny floret is composed of five petals, toothed, nicked, fringed, or 

 rounded. The colorings run riot, from every shade of red, white, pinks. 



