POINTS FOR THE BEGINNER 15 



such as muslin or canvas, would answer 

 as a cover, but the burlap is both tougher 

 and cheaper, the cover used last fall being 

 good after several seasons' wear. 



WINTER PROTECTION 



"After the flowers have matured or have 

 been cut, the old stems are cut off close to 

 the ground and the stools covered with 

 about eight inches of loose, strawy material. 

 Leaves alone prove too compact. I under- 

 stand that some people prefer to dig up the 

 roots and store the balls of earth close to- 

 gether in a corner of the cellar, where it is 

 cool but not freezing, but I have never done 

 so. Indeed, the old roots are not disturbed 

 until the spring division, and they have 

 done very well with me out of doors." 



The methods adopted and the results 

 obtained by this amateur are above criticism. 

 An expert could scarcely do better. A 

 list of varieties recommended by him as 

 being well adapted to his method of treat- 

 ment will be found in the chapter devoted 

 to "types and varieties." In reference to 

 wintering the plants out of doors, it is doubt- 

 ful if equally satisfactory results will be 



