THE ROUTINE OF WORK 25 



coal is burned. The floating particles lodging 

 on the leaves fill up the pores, which are the 

 lungs of the plant, and unless the foliage is 

 kept clean the plant will speedily sicken and 

 the leaves drop prematurely. In extreme 

 cases in towns it is necessary to sponge the 

 leaves in order to open the pores, but frequent 

 syringing under ordinary circumstances will 

 be sufficient. The frequent showering with 

 water will also keep insect pests in check, 

 especially aphis and red spider. 



CUT THE FLOWERS FOR MORE BLOOM 



When the roses are in bloom, be generous 

 to your friends. Cut as many as possible 

 each day. On the plant they soon attain their 

 full development and fall away. They en- 

 dure longer when cut and put into water 

 indoors. Cut in the early morning before the 

 flowers are fully open. It is better for the 

 plant to have the flowers picked as freely as 

 possible, and with as long stems as the growth 

 will permit, merely observing the precaution 

 of leaving an outward-growing eye, or per- 

 haps two for safety, on the stem below the cut. 



Where it has been found impossible to pick 



