390 PLAIN AND PLEASANT TALK 



POTTING GARDEN PLANTS FOR WINTER USE. 



Roses, gei'aniums, chrysanthemums, Cape jasmins, etc., 

 which have been put into the garden borders, should 

 be prepared for removal to the parlor for Avinter, before 

 frost, else the plants will not be established in the pots 

 when removed to the parlor, and will thrive but poorly. 



Select the j^ot which is to receive each plant, draw a cir- 

 cle about the plant of the size of the pot, then thrust a 

 sharp spade down so as to cut all the roots at the line of the 

 circle described. Let the plant remain, Avatering it tho- 

 roughly j and if it droops, let it be sheltered from the sun. 

 In a few days new roots will begin to form Avithin the ball 

 of earth described by the circle, and in three or four weeks 

 that ball may be carefully lifted, placed in the pot for which 

 it was measured, and it will go on growing as if nothing 

 had happened to it. If one waits till frost, then digs up the 

 plant without a previous preparation of its roots, it will of- 

 tentimes not recover from the violence during the winter. 

 But by the method suggested above, roses, etc., Avill go on 

 growing and blooming through the Avinter. 



There are many Avho sui"»pose it necessary to leave the 

 second groAvth of grass undisturbed, to rot on the ground, 

 in order to preserve the fertility of old moadoAvs in grass 

 where top dressing Avith manure is not resorted to. But 

 such management is oftentimes extremely hurtful, and the 

 injury is proportioned to the amount left untrodden and 

 unfed. If the amount left standing, or laying loose upon 

 the surface, be considerable, it makes a harbor for mice, 

 which Avill, under cover of the old grass, intersect the sur- 

 face of the land Avith paths innumerable, from Avhich they 

 cut all the grass that comes in their way. 



