202 THE 



uanecessarv and undesirable shoots 

 as thcv api>€ar. If ,1 want a crop 

 of autumn llowers, I cut mv plants 

 back after their first bloom is over. 

 This, however, is seldom. I prefer 

 them to make new wood for the 

 next year, for it is on the new 

 \\x)od (that of the previous year's 

 growth) that we get our finest 

 llowers. 



— Pruning. — 



In the autumn, under favorable 

 conditions, we have in any case 

 some roses, and what 1 think 

 more important, a good growth 

 of new wood. These new shoots 

 I pinch or cut back a few inches 

 from the tip, and this causes the 

 lower buds to ripen. Towards the 

 end of autumn I spade the beds 

 lightly, and muich "well with good 

 manure. Then in winter I give the 

 plants a systematic and thorctigh 

 pruning. Now, in pruning, there 

 are two principles. Brielly stated, 

 they are as follows : — 



For size and quality, prtme 

 closely — that is, leave only three 

 to seven eyes, according to the 

 habit of growth, upon the strong 

 shoots and laterals, cutting out al- 

 together all weakly, infirm, and 

 old wood, leaving only the strong 

 and thrifty ripened shoots of the 

 previous season's growth. 



For quantity, follow the same 

 course as to weakly and old 

 wood, but cut to eight or twelve 

 or more e3'es. The above are 

 general rules, which must, how- 

 ever, l>e m.odified and supplemented 

 hy the following : — 



Roses of weak growth 'require 

 more severe pruning than those 

 that are, vigorous and thrifty. The 

 latter m'Ust have the shoots left 

 longetr, but must be well thinned 

 out. As one gets to know their 

 roses and their habits of growth, 

 the treatment each requires soon 

 becomes ai)parent. In pri'.ining, 1 

 make the cut clean and as nearly 

 horizontal as possible, and always 

 cut to an outside eve, so that the 

 shoot that grows from the eye cut 

 will grow outwards. And, fur- 

 ther, I always bear in irrind and 

 keep in view the shape and sym- 

 metry of the plant as it will be, 

 for that is formed in pruning. 

 .\fter i)nming I usually spray the 

 bushes with a weak solution of 

 ]k>rdeau,\ mi.xture, giving them an- 

 other spray of the same after 

 growth starts in the spring. I 

 find this treatment helps to keej) 

 the wood and foliage clean and, free 

 from black spot, blight and mil- 

 rk'V/ ; and it mav also have sonic 

 effect in keeping away aphis, with 



GARDEN AND FIELD. 



which my hybrid ])erpetuals are 

 seldom troubled, unless the wea- 

 tlieir conditions are very unfavor- 

 able during the early growing sea- 

 son. If ajihis appear, dust the 

 plants with tobacco dust and 

 spread toliacco stems about them. 

 As a rule, however, I believe that 

 g'ood cultivation and haalthy 

 growth is the best prev'entive of 

 aphis, and that when tliev are pre- 

 sene it shows something is lack- 

 ing in these pacticulars. For mil- 

 drew, I also (USe Bordeaux mix- 

 ture, and sometimes a concoction 

 of lime and sulphur, which I find 

 effective. After blooming is over 

 I do not think a little mildew of 

 much detriment, as with the 

 treatment I suggest the plants 

 come out clear and healthy in the 

 spring. The teas, hylirid teas, 

 Bourbons, Noisettes, and other 

 varieties recjuire the same general 

 treatment, modified, of course, by 

 different pruning of the varieties 

 according to their class and habits 

 of growth. 



♦ 



The Seed Bed. 



A proi)er seed bed is a great 

 convenience, if our sowings are to 

 exceed the modest limits of a few 

 odd pots and boxes. The soil 

 should be light, mellow, and free 

 from weed seeds. Good drainage 

 is necessary, and it is certainly de- 

 sirable that the bed should be en- 

 closed with sides and ends to sup- 

 port calico covered frames, wliich 

 are need'ed to keep the surface 

 moist when the soil exposed to 

 wind and sunshine would bake and 

 prevent seeds coming up. Before 

 sowing, dig the bed, and after rak- 

 ing smooth, water well and wait 

 for the first crop of weeds to 

 com.e up. Take theye out, make 

 the ground qi'iite firm, tramping it 

 thoroughly all over will do more 

 good than harm, then stir the 

 .'■Tirface lightly and rake smoothly 

 and the bed should be in good con- 

 dition for all, but the very finest 

 seed. A general rule is not to 

 cover seed more than twice the 

 depth of their own diameter, but 

 as two grains of sand may exceed 

 this, it is naturally one which it 

 is difficult to adhere to strictly. 

 It • is better to sow the seed in 

 rows for many reasons. Seeds 

 which germinate in about the same 

 length of time should be sown 

 next each other or the bed gets to 

 look very imtidv and there are 

 also more serious objections. 

 ♦ 



The Stag's-hom f'jrn is one of 

 the very best of room idants. 



October, 1913 



few fine leaved plants will 

 bear the confined atmosphere of i 

 living room throughout the winter 

 without showing signs of suffering, 

 but this fern seems cpiite indiffer- 

 ent. It is quaint and distinct as 

 a basket plant. In potting keej) 

 the crown well above the rim ol 

 the pot and do not over water. 



ELEMENTS 

 TONIC 



I Had a. "turn o'F 

 In-HuenzEi ±hat 

 nestrly cos-b me 

 my li-F©." 



Mr. ROBERT BAI^t), Brown Street 

 Semaphore, South Australia, writes 

 this letter, 10/10/12 ; — 



CLEMENTS TONIC LTD. 



"I AM GLAD TO BEAR TESTI- 

 MONY TO THE HEALTH-GIVING 

 VIRTUES OF YOUR MEDICINE, 

 CLEMENTS TONIC. 

 For same years my wife and I have 

 pinned our faith to it : we have 

 both ased it for liver troubles. We 

 are getting on in years now and are 

 sometimes threatened with indi- 

 gestion, bat we always find that a 

 few doses of Clements Tonic wards 

 it off, and gives us fresh vigor. A 

 while back 1 had a bad turn ol In- 

 fluenza that nearly cost me my life. 

 I AGAIN USED YOUR MEDICINE 



wrrn the same splendid re- 

 sults. It soon pulled me around 

 and made me fit and well. I think 

 it a good thing to keep in the hou^e, 

 and I have no doubt IT HAS SAVED 

 ME POUNDS IN DOCTOR'S BILLS. 



'(Signed) ROBERT BALD." 



CI<K,MRNTS TONIC isa nerve tonic 

 and blood-cleanser of reniarkahle 

 power. You cannot have it and iU<. 

 health too. It is healtli iji m new 

 guise. It is a certain n-niedy lor 

 Biliousness, Wind, Pali>it.'i lion , Loss 

 of Sleep, Sick Htadaclic. Sluggish 

 Liver. Weakness. Indigestion , or Con- 

 stipation, Keep it in the house. 



It is sold by all 

 Chemists and 

 Storekeepers. 



