FLOWER GARDEN TRIALS AND TROUBLES 63 



then dig a hole 2 or 3 feet square, and fill with a mixture of the soil 

 taken out, fresh turfy soil, a few shovels of decayed manure, and 

 some coarse sand. Make it firm, and leave for a week to settle 

 before planting. Neither Ivy-leaved Geranium nor Solanum is 

 hardy, and would most probably die in winter unless thoroughly pro- 

 tected. The best plant for your purpose is Ceanothus Gloire de 

 Versailles, a climbing shrub with beautiful blue flowers in August. 



How to Preserve Buds and Flowers 



Q. Can you tell me if there is anything I can do to preserve 

 flowers after they are cut?/. K. t Wimbledon. 



A. The following method of preserving flower buds so that they 

 will bloom long after they are picked from the plant will interest 

 you. Gather the buds when nearly ready to open, and seal up 

 the ends of the stalks with sealing wax, wrap the buds in tissue 

 paper, and put them in a tin box perfectly airtight. When the bud 

 is wanted to open, cut off the sealing wax and put the stalk in water 

 to which a little saltpetre has been added. The flowers can thus be 

 had in bloom a month or two later than their usual season. I have 

 tried the plan with Roses only, but I am told it is equally satis- 

 factory with other tiowers. 



To prevent Butterflies depositing their Eggs 



Q. Can you tell me if there is anything I can do to prevent the 

 large white Cabbage butterfly from depositing eggs, and so to some 

 extent rid my garden of caterpillars 1 A. E. W., Derby. 



A. The eggs of the large white butterfly are laid in clusters 

 beneath the leaves, but the eggs of the small white, and also of the 

 green veined white, are laid singly. This is important, as the eggs 

 of the first are easily destroyed by looking for them as soon as the 

 butterflies are noticed, and the pieces of leaves covered with them 

 torn off and burned. This method will not answer for the small 

 white or green veined white's eggs. You should have the chrysalids 

 searched for and destroyed. These are chiefly found in outhouses, 

 potting sheds, and like places under eaves or palings, or under pieces 

 of rough timber. This can be done in winter time, and again in 

 June or July when the first brood has pupated, the butterflies you 

 recently saw being of that generation. Another means of reducing 

 their numbers is to procure some strips of tin, and as many sticks 

 pointed at one end for thrusting into the ground, cleft at the top, 

 and so long as to be well above the Cabbages. Affix the sticks 

 about 6 feet apart, smear the tin on both sides with a mixture of 



