240 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



FLOWERS AT FAIRS. 



The Maine State Pomological Society issued a circular encouraging the 

 exhibit of plants at their State fair to be held next September in Lewiston. The 

 special object is to encourage the young to cultivate flowers ; and a free ticket 

 to the State Fair is given every child who exhibits even a single plant. This 

 circular was issued on the 8th of June and, although a little late, the directions 

 there given, with reference to preparing plants for exhibition, may be interesting 

 to many of our readers. The following are the chief points : 



Soil. — Many plants need to be re-potted. The best soil for this pur- 

 pose is rich garden loam, to which add one-third well rotted stable manure. 



Pots. — The best pots are the unglazed kind with saucers ; those painted 

 or glazed, are not so desirable for flowering plants. Great care should be used 

 to secure good drainage. Before filling the pot with soil, a little charcoal and 

 some broken bones will be very acceptable to the plants. They will very soon 

 cover the bones with a tiny network of roots. 



Treatment. — Plants are often injured by too frequent waterings. A safe 

 rule is to apply the water only when the surface of the soil is dry, then do it 

 thoroughly. Sometimes they may need water every day, at other times they 

 may do for several days. Careful attention is all that is needed. Frequent 

 sprinkling is useful for keeping off insects from the leaves and makes the plants 

 hardy. Have the pot clean, trim the plants often, take off" all dead leaves, and 

 you may be sure of beautiful window plants. 



Tre.\t.ment of Easter Lilies. — After bloom, ripen the growth thoroughly 

 by standing the pots out-doors after the hardest frosts are past. Later on, plant 

 the balls of earth from the pots in the garden. The same bulbs are not good 

 for forcing a second time. After several years the young bulbs around the parent 

 bulb will, in good sort, have developed sufficiently to answer for forcing. — 

 American Gardeiiin9. 



Hardy Roses. — Hardy roses, including hybrid i)er[)etual, June, and yellow 

 roses, do best in deep, cool, rich soil, in beds exposed to light and air, but not 

 to sweeping winds. The soil should be made fine and mellow to a depth of 20 

 inches before planting them. The rose-beds should be dressed annually with 

 some good comi)ost — half decayed grass sods and half well decayed fertilizers, 

 or bone-meal with sods, is good. Autumn is the best time for applying the com- 

 post. Hybrid perpetual roses should be pruned every year, either in autumn or 

 spring. Remove weak and dead wood, and cut back last year's shoots to 3 or 

 4 eyes. Tobacco stems scattered under the plants is a good remedy for thrips, 

 and fir-tree oil is sometimes used. Mix one-fourth of a pint of oil with 2"^ 

 gallons of water, stir it well and syringe the plants with it. —A/iuriidn Gdrdining- 



