FLOniCriTUIiE. 



391 



Now, the pieces being nailed to the block with brads, begin to omameut it 

 with grape-viues and roota. Roota are tacked to the under side of the block, 

 to fill it all up, and at the lower points of the pieces where they match, al- 

 ways keeping in view one thing — to preserve the tapering form and matching 

 the roots in every way that will bring them all towards the center with uni- 

 foimity. Next put vines on the 

 sides, as per engraving, bring- 

 ing two together over the places 

 where the sticks match; also, 

 weave in around the top two 

 vines, in and out alternately, 

 and, fastening with brads, tack 

 roots on the pieces between the 

 ornamental work. 



Next put on a handle of 

 grape-^ine, giving it a single 

 knot; tie at the top to form a 

 loop, interweaving it wth a 

 smaller vine; then give the 

 basket a coat of varnish and put 

 in suitable plants. Keep the 

 basket partially in the shade, 

 and occasionally dip it in a bar- 

 rel of rain water. 



To Prepare Plantx for 

 Winter. — It is a great mistake 

 to delay the work of prepara- 

 tion for winter until it is sug- 

 gested by cool nights or a warn- 

 ing given by blighting frosts. 

 When a plant has been taken 

 from a pot and planted in open 

 ground it usually outgrows its 

 former place, and is too large 

 for any vessel of convenient 

 size. The root should be cut 

 away to a considerable extent 

 and likewise the top or foliage 

 must be correspondingly re- 

 duced. Novi<!fc8 often fail at 

 this point, for they dislike to 

 part with any of the new growth, 

 and set the plant in a pot un- 

 pruned, and expect what is not 

 possible, that it will flourish. 



Cut back root system and branch system equally is the rule. Plants when 

 thus transplanted need to be favored by being kept in the shade and shel- 

 tered from the drying winds until they have made *i^od start in tJie pots. 

 Many of the house plants are kept in their pots during the summer and will 

 peed repotting, or the pot washed and the surface soU replaced by fresh, 

 rich earth. A larger pot is needed by those plants whose roots have formed 

 ft mat along the inner suriiice. The ball of earth caa be examined quickly 



arsnc H-iororso basset. 



