June, 1912 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS Vii 
burning half of the time. This is true also 
of gas lights, where burners having pull 
chain fixtures, allowing a flicker of light 
to serve as a torch, are substituted for com- 
mon ones. 
Burned-out wires in bulbs are a large 
expense, but these may be mended if only 
one wire is broken. To do this attach the 
bulb to a drop light, turn on the electricity 
and hold the bulb between yourself and the 
light, shaking it gently back and forth. The 
broken ends will meet and the current weld 
the wires together again. 
lf gas is the lighting system it is even 
more necessary to know the location of the 
pipes, the shutting off of the flow of gas at 
the opportune moment having often pre- 
vented serious fires. ; 
It is also even more important to beware 
of leaks, not only in consideration of the 
pocketbook but the health of the family. 
Never, however, make the mistake of look- 
ing for a leaky gas pipe with a light. The 
nose and the ear should be sufficient guides ; 
after which try smearing the suspected spot 
with a thick paste of soapsuds. If bubbles 
form in the paste you may be sure there is 
a leak there, which should at once be at- 
tended to regardless of expense. 
COSMOS TILL CHRISTMAS 
N the country about New York, blossom 
time offers such a wealth of floral loveli- 
ness and the season of sere leaf and gusts 
of snow is so niggardly in this respect, that 
some method by which blooms may come 
fresh from wintry gardens to brighten in- 
door life at Christmastide, is well worth 
knowing. 
The flowers which so rewarded my care 
were white and pink cosmos, of which I 
cut enough just before Christmas to adorn 
two rooms and the foyer with six large 
bunches. By changing the water in which 
they stood and clipping the ends of the 
long stems each day these dainty blossoms 
lasted for more than two weeks, buds open- 
ing constantly to add a fresh supply of 
blooms. 
The secret of my beautiful harvest of 
cosmos lay in the fact that my garden is 
situated on the southern slope of a thickly 
wooded mountain and the portion of it in 
which I planted cosmos was further pro- 
tected by an angle to the north and north- 
west formed by a tall hedge of privet and 
the house. Back of some terrace beds of 
perennials I planted, late in Spring, a thick 
border of cosmos to form a delicate back- 
ground of green for blossoms of various 
sorts until chrysanthemums finished the 
season in November. 
My cosmos were of two heights, the 
taller variety spreading thick symmetrical 
branches some seven or eight feet above the 
terrace. They commenced blooming pro- 
fusely early in the Autumn and continued 
to blossom through snows that several 
times froze full-blown flowers but never 
seemed to injure buds or plants, until a 
storm that threatened unusual severity de- 
cided me to cut every budding branch and 
bloom a few days before Christmas. 
The earth in which my cosmos were 
planted consisted of unfertile native red 
clay and pebbles mixed well with a com- 
post of rotted manure and leaves, and the 
plants were said to exceed in height, spread 
and thickness of branches and quantity of 
bloom any in that vicinity. 
The same fortune which attended the 
cosmos prompted red, straw-colored and 
white chrysanthemums, which were planted 
in a border against the southern side of the 
house as well as in front of the cosmos, to 
yield blooms until early in December. 
Your trees 
~ will not die of old 
age but of neglect or 
of mistreatment from in- 
experienced men who wield 
_an axe and saw with heartless 
indifference. The tree here 
shown was a big tree when George 
Washington was president. It was dying 
of neglect when Davey Tree Experts gave 
it a new lease of life. Thousands of other 
trees with either a sentimental or money value 
have been saved by Davey Tree Experts. The 
cost In many cases was no more than the cost 
of removing dead trees. 
Davey as Experts 
Oo 
for trees what trained surgeons do for human beings. They 
render the greatest service possible, because they are trained 
in the Davey Institute of Tree Surgery, founded by John 
Davey. They carry credentials proving them qualified. 
Demand to see these credentials before you let any man touch 
your trees. All graduates are employed by the Davey Tree 
Expert Company. WE NEVER LET GOOD MEN GO. 
Your trees may be unsound and yet appear sound. They 
may have weak crotches. The first high wind will blow 
them over. Loss of property and life may result. 
If you want to save your trees write to-day for our 
free book. Be sure to mention how many trees you 
have and their kind. If agreeable to you we will 
make an expert examination of your trees with- 
out obligation on your part. Address 
The Davey Tree Expert Co., 
230 Root Street, Kent, Ohio 
Branch Offices: 
New York, N. Y., Chicago, IIl., Toronto, Ont. 
Canadian Address: 
630 Conf. Life Building, Toronto 
Representatives 
Available 
Every- 
where 
JOHN DAVEY 
Father of Tree Surgery 
COPYRIGHT !9!2 
Farr’s Fancy Bulbs 
Imported to Order 
If you send me your order before July Ist] can import 
Tulips, Daffodils, or Hyacinths specially for you, and 
deliver the bulbs about the middle of September. 
The finest bulbs can be secured only by ordering early, 
| and for this reason! give a _ special discount of 10 per 
| cent. on all orders received before July Ist. 
I will fill orders after July ist, but] cannot guarantee 
such high quality bulbs. 
Send for my Bulb Book and learn about my plan; then 
make your selection at once, so that you may be sure of 
receiving Holland's finest bulbs for your garden. 
OLD ENGLISH GARDEN SEATS 
RUSTIC WORK 
Catalog of many designs on request 
North Shore Ferneries Company, 
Beverly, Massachusetts 
Plant for Immediate Effect 
Not for Future Generations 
It takes many years to 
BERTRAND H. FARR, Wyomissing Nurseries 
643E Penn Street, Reading, Pa. 
Start with the largest stock that can be secured! 
grow such Trees and Shrubs as we offer. 
We do the long waiting—thus enabling you to secure Trees and Shrubs that 
give an immediate effect. Spring Price List gives complete information. 
Box CHESTNUT HILL 
ANDORRA NURSERIE N PHILADELPHIA, PA. 
WM. WARNER HARPER, Proprietor 
