FLOWERING PLANTS 111 
Cultivate to a depth of at least four inches close to 
the plants until blooms appear; then stir the surface soil, 
always keeping a layer of loose earth on the surface. 
As a rule, watering will not be necessary if the ground 
has been cultivated carefully. In case the soil should 
become dry, give it water enough to reach down to the 
roots, and cultivate soon after. 
To increase the size of the flowers late in the season, 
give each of the plants a handful of garden fertilizer or 
a quart of Hquid manure. Water thoroughly to carry 
the fertilizer down to the roots. 
When the foliage is destroyed by frost, cut off the tops 
just above the ground and dig up the roots. After dry- 
ing in the sun three or four hours, store the roots in a 
cellar where the temperature does not fall below fifty- 
five degrees. If the roots shrink, cover them with several 
thicknesses of paper and sprinkle the paper with water. 
If they begin to sprout during the winter, they are too 
moist. 
THe ENGLISH DAISY 
The English daisy (Bellis perennis) is excellent for edg- 
ing flower beds and borders. It 1s sometimes planted in 
the grass on lawns for early flower effect. It begins 
blooming in May, and the flowering season may be 
prolonged by cutting the faded blossoms. By keeping 
the plant in good growing condition fresh flowers may 
be had during the greater part of the summer. The 
blossoms are double or semidouble, and the color varies 
