52 THE GARDEN 



branches continued to grow and bloomed well. Therefore, we thankfulljr 

 concluded, at least part of the root was all right. 



But, this season, the very minute we saw similar symptons to work 

 we got. Half-an-hour after discovering the first yellow-looking leaf — It 

 had not yet even withered badly — we dug down, and half-an-inc"i from 

 where the branch came up from the root, and about an inch below the top 

 of the soil, there we saw some queer-shaped bugs, dark brown, humped, 

 like a potato bug, but much smaller, in fact, about the size of the well- 

 known brilliant ladybug, and clinging so tightly to the brown bark that it 

 was with difficulty we could loosen them. But we loosened those bugs for 

 good. 



They were the fatal "borers," at least that is the conclusion ve drew. 

 Cprf.a.hiiy nothing further has happened. By the greatest luc'i we had 

 manag'd to s^e th^ first wilting it:af in time to make the search for the 

 colony of torers. 



Before rilling up the slight hollow around the oranches issuing from 

 the root we sifted ir some fresh wood ashes from the kitchen stove. But, 

 first we killed every bug. We even hunted out our magnifying reading 

 glasses to help us with the search. We evidentlv fj'ind them all. 

 Bordeau mixture Is the improved spray for this borer. But I fail to se© 

 what good any spray will do when the poor plant is left long enough to 

 the ravages of an enemy to let the enemy eat out the very heart of the 

 plant. 



TIE UP ALL STRAGGLY BRANCHES 



October is the time to commence the tying up of your climbing vines 

 and bushes. On examination it will be found that many of the tenderer 

 climbing roses may be taken carefully from their fastenings and laid gently 

 down upon the ground. In doing this, be very careful not to bend the 

 long canes too sharply over, else the bark may split near the root. It will 

 be quite sufficient if .the long, branching vines are in contact vath the 

 earth, where they may rest beneath the warm mulching of leaves and man- 

 ure, presently to be layered upon all the garden. 



Many vines, especially if they are yet of a tender age, not man/ years 

 old, may be more safely wintered thus, than by risking their welTare un- 

 disturbed. Wistarias, even tho the main vine be as thick as an ordinary 

 broom handle, are very easily taken from their summer moorings, and 

 bent to the ground for better covering. Clematis .vines, altho as a rule 

 springing up freshly from the main bulbous roots, often make so much 

 splendidly woody growth that it is nothing short of heart breaking w^hen 

 one thinks that all those long, spindly vines will not send out young 

 shoots next spring. 



Just take those clematis vines down from the trellis work, or what- 

 ever support to which they are clinging, and having been most careful not 

 to bend the vines too sharply to earth (for they are brittle, not at all 

 as elastic as the wastaria), then at the proper time cover with leaves 

 and mulching. Next spring your clematis vines will send out shoots from 

 the very topmost tips of last year's wood. Just think of the gain. Also, 

 your wistaria will surprise you. 



This does sound not only difficult but impossible. Yet it is for the 

 good of these vines, and, once started at the work, and having gained a 

 little confidence, you will be astonished at the good work you may ac- 

 complish. 



Where it is impossible to take down and cover the long canes, then 

 the next best thing to do-^-and do not neglect it — is to tie securely air 



