POINTS FOR THE BEGINNER" 13 



a five-foot stake at each end of the row, and 

 connect them by wires placed a foot apart, 

 to which the stems are tied as they grow. 



"An invisible support of my own devis- 

 ing is perhaps the best of all when growing 

 a clump or bush. As the plant increases 

 in size drive a heavy stake (a broomstick 

 painted green) so the top will be in the 

 centre of the clump, the bottom sometimes 

 slanting out slightly, to avoid the roots as 

 much as possible. From this, suspend by 

 four strings a heavy wire ring about eighteen 

 inches in diameter, and with hooked ends, 

 to allow its being joined around the plant 

 and brought up from below. The strings 

 are tied to the ring in slip knots, to permit 

 of the ring being raised or lowered as the 

 plant may require. The plants completely 

 hide the stake, which can be driven quite 

 low, and the method of support is not 

 noticed. 



"Aside from the staking and disbudding 

 details, the routine of work is simple. See 

 that the plants do not want for water, and 

 early in July spread a mulch of about two 

 inches of old manure about the roots to 

 prevent the ground from baking. From 



