THE DINGEE & CONARD COMPANY'S 



tervals, and throw some newspapers over them 

 during the extreme heat of the day to shield from 

 the effects of the sun until they become somewhat 

 established. 'Do not plant if the ground is wet, 

 as it will afterwards bake around the roots and 

 interfere with their growth. If, for this or other 

 reasons, it is not desirable or convenient to plant 

 at once, place the box in the cellar or some other 

 moderately warm place, remove the cover, set the 

 plants upright to give them air and water freely 

 from time to time. In this way they may be kept 

 fresh for some time. Should they have a withered 

 appearance, caused by some unusual delay while 

 in transit (which seldom occurs), soak them in 

 lukewarm water for an hour or so before planting 

 to restore their vitality. If any branches or twigs 

 are broken the plant is nowise injured; cut out 

 the broken parts and new growth will shortly ap- 

 pear. The plants received from our establishment 

 have been grown in a warm temperature, and 

 therefore should not be exposed to extreme cold. 

 The most favorable season for planting in most 

 localities is during the Spring, about the time 

 when the work of Spring gardening is being 

 prosecuted. Of course, this refers more especially 

 to those sections of the country where, owing to 

 prolonged and severe Winters, Fall planting is 

 attended with considerable risk. In our more 

 southern States, and where mild Winters usually 

 prevail, many prefer to plant in the Fall. 



{TuTi'tttJlttntl I The soil around the plants 



iiiuuvauoui should be kept loose £ nd free 



from weeds and grass to insure their vigorous 

 growth. The moisture supplied by the rain and 

 dew is ordinarily sufficient, but during protracted 

 droughts the plants should be watered daily in 

 the evening. When the dust begins to accumu- 

 late and the grass has a parched appearance it 

 may be taken as an indication that the soil is 

 becoming dry, and the supply of water should be 

 regulated accordingly. Use water judiciously ; 

 too much will be more or less injurious. 



Pruning.. | ?° absolute rule can be laid 



is- =? ' down for the guidance of the 



inexperienced ; plants differ so with respect to 

 constitution and habits of growth. Many are 

 neat and compact, requiring little or no atten- 

 tion ; others are vigorous and straggling, sending 

 out long shoots which tend to outrun the limits 

 assigned them, giving to the bush an unsightly 

 appearance. Pruning should be regulated some- 

 what as regards the habits of growth of the dif- 

 ferent varieties under cultivation. The most 

 persistent growers may be cut back each Spring 

 or Fall from one-half to two-thirds the last sea- 

 son's growth. Trim so as to give the shrub a 

 well-balanced, shapely appearance, cutting out 

 all dead or unthrifty wood and removing diseased 

 or imperfect blooms as they appear from time to 

 time. In cases where plants are apparently 

 healthy and profuse bloomers, and their buds 

 blight or fail to mature, remove a large percent- 

 age of them as they begin to develop and trim 

 severely. Should they exhibit a prolonged con- 

 dition of debility, and shed their leaves after 

 being planted, the tops should be cut back at least 

 one-third. In transplanting field-grown stock 

 the roots will suffer curtailment to the extent of 

 about one-half, and therefore the tops should be 

 reduced proportionately. Varieties of delicate 

 habit, which are by nature coy bloomers, need to 

 be pruned rigorously. 



Keeping in mind our previous 

 remarks with reference to the 

 conditions of plant growth — soil, 

 light, temperature and moisture 

 — no difficulty whatever should be experienced in 

 propagating within doors. Plants intended for 

 Winter blooming should be purchased from a 

 reliable florist during September or October, and 

 when received the plants, if one year, should be 

 repotted into four-inch pots; if two year, .into 

 six-inch pots. Boxes specially constructed for 

 the purpose may be substituted for pots. These 

 should be made ten inches wide, ten inches deep 

 and as long as required ; at the bottom place 

 evenly a three-inch layer of broken crockery or 

 porous cinders, covering with a few sheets of 

 coarse brown paper to afford drainage. Fill to 

 within an inch of the top with good, rich potting 

 soil, which should consist of three parts loam and 

 one of sand. Liquid manure or fine ground bone 

 are excellent fertilizers. A warm, light situation 

 near a window where the plants can get as much 

 sun as possible should be selected. After plant- 

 ing, shade for a few days until they have become 

 in a measure established. Should they become 

 infested with insect parasites, use some good in- 

 secticide or remove the plants outdoors or to the 

 cellar and give a thorough drenching with tepid 

 water, cleaning and airing the window stands or 

 shelves. A temperature ranging from 50 at night 

 to 75 during the day should be maintained ; this 

 is not difficult. The damage to plants usually 

 occurs at night, when the fires are low, during 

 extreme cold weather. Worms that sometimes 

 infest the soil may be expelled by a weak solution 

 of lime water. 



Hrt6CCt0 Hnfc) i There are quite a number of 

 «H/.A/iM«<s«» different species of insects 

 iSngCCUCtOCg j which prey upon the foliage 

 and blossoms of the Rose. 

 Their ravages are worse in some localities as com- 

 pared with others ; some years they are numerous 

 — others, conspicuous by their almost entire ab- 

 sence. Thorough cultivation should be resorted 

 to in order to secure a healthy and vigoi-ous 

 growth of the plants, in which state they are 

 equipped for the struggle for existence, and if at- 

 tacked by insect parasites the effects will be slight 

 and not sufficient to despoil them of much of their 

 beauty of foliage or bloom. At their very first 

 appearance a good insecticide should be used, a 

 few applications of which is usually effectual in 

 exterminating them at the outset, after which 

 very little or no trouble may be experienced. 



The following recipes and preparations are 

 recommended as being superior for the purpose, 

 and should be applied in solution both to the 

 upper and under surface of the leaves by means 

 of a spraying syringe or whisk broom. 



Kerosene Emulsion. — To two parts of kerosene 

 add one of slightly sour milk ; agitate until the 

 compound unites in the form of a white jelly ; 

 dilute with twenty parts of soft water. 



Tobacco Solution. — Made by boiling the leaves 

 or stems of tobacco ; the liquid should be made 

 about the strength of weak tea. 



Paris Green and London Purple. — Dissolve a 

 teaspoonful of either in a gallon of soft water and 

 mix thoroughly just before using. These com- 

 pounds are effective but poisonous, and therefore 

 care should be exercised. The solution is harm- 

 less after being applied, as it contains such a 

 small proportion of poisonous matter. 



Tobacco Insecticide Soap. — This preparation is 

 put up in tin cans, with directions for use printed 

 on labels. It is a standard remedy and one of the 

 best. Price, 30 cts. per can, by Mail, postpaid. 



