10 



THE h LORAL lVORLT> 



ROSE CUTTINGS 



For best results in growing rose cut- 

 tings, I would advise growing under 

 glass jars. In this way success is as- 

 sured. In November, when the 

 weather begins to get cold, take cut- 

 tings eight or nine inches long; with 

 trowel dig holes about four inches 

 deep; fill two-thirds with sand; set 

 cutting in straight; fill with good gar- 

 den soil; water well; then cover with 

 two-quart fruit jar. Do not remove 

 until spring, when all danger of frost 

 is past, then you will find your cut- 

 tings full of new growth and doing 

 nicely. By next fall they will be from 

 twelve to fifteen inches high. They 

 will bloom before they are a year old, 

 and I think we appreciate and enjoy 

 them a great deal more than if ordered 

 from a fiorist. Then, too, they always 

 prove true, which is not the case when 

 we buy them. When planted in this 

 way I have few failures. I have four- 

 teen beauties grown the past year, and 

 all have bloomed. 



North Carolina. B. G. Ward. 



A WATER BOUQUET 



At this season, when bouquet mate- 

 rials are scarce and precious, the idea 

 of the water bouquet presents itself as 

 a pleasing and attractive substitute to 

 our winter flower lovers. Onlv a very 

 few flowers and tiny sprigs of green 

 are required in its manufacture. The 

 delicate, airy leaves of asparagus 

 sprengeri and plumosus lending them- 

 selves to graceful arrangements, will 

 be found among the prettiest and dain- 

 tiest green material for the purpose. 

 These, with one or two geranium blos- 

 soms, a cluster of stevia, sweet alys- 

 sum, or any other fine flower, will be 

 all that is needed. Arrange and tie to- 

 gether with thread, cutting the stems 

 quite short to permit the long ends of 

 thread to extend below, which should 

 be fastened to a small pebble, piece of 

 coral, or anything suitable for a 

 weight. Next place a plate in the bot- 



tom of a pail of water, take a hyacinth- 

 glass in one hand, bouquet in the- 

 other, lower the latter in the water,, 

 and cover it with the inverted glass- 

 Then lift the plate with the glass, and. 

 you will see suspended midway some- 

 thing novel and unique in the form of 

 a bouquet, the water giving to the flow- 

 ers a rich, silvery look, because of 

 which mine have often been mistaken, 

 for wax work. Pansies are especially^ 

 beautiful used in this way. 

 Louisiana. Florence M. Walker. 



CACTUS POINTERS 



Upon receipt of cactus, put in luke- 

 warm water one-half hour. Examine 

 closely for any soft, bruised spots. Cut 

 all such out down to the firm, undis- 

 eased portion, even if it takes half the 

 plant. Cut the roots close to plant, 

 and pot in very sandy soil, water well 

 and set in sunsnine. It is well to look 

 over your cacti occasionally; if any 

 does not seem thifty, remove from 

 pots at once, clean well in lukewarm 

 water; cut out any soft spots, and re- 

 pot in sand. These cut cacti will 

 send out new offshoots, and form a 

 very pretty plant. Of course this must 

 be done before the cactus is too far 

 gone, though often one-third of a cac- 

 tus will live and send out several off- 

 shoots, making an odd and unique 

 plant. All cactus received from col- 

 lectors direct from their native haunts, 

 should have their old roots cut off 

 closely, and potted in sandy loam, 

 with sharp sand under roots and base 

 of plant. Even if the old roots are 

 left on, they are useless, as the cactus 

 forms new ones anyhow. 



The spineless types of cactus are 

 more widely known and cultivated 

 than those with spines, yet the latter 

 are more easily grown and are more 

 effective for window or conservatory 

 culture. Varieties should be chosen 

 in regard to contrast of spines, and 

 blossom, to have the best result. 



New Mexico. Sudie L. Pattison. 



