THE FLORAL WORLD 



as lovely as the flowers are the decora- 

 tive plants, palms, ferns and bego lias, 

 and all are at their best in the gentle 

 warmth and moisture of the green- 

 house. Mrs. Henry Wight. 

 Georgia. 



TEXAS FLOWER GARDENS 



In fixing my garden for winter I use 

 old hay and straw as a mulch, com- 

 bined with plenty of well rotted ma- 

 nure. The ground should be loosened 

 around the plants before putting the 

 manure on, especially the roses. You 

 cannot make the soil too rich for 

 roses. In this locality (southwest 

 Texas) roses should be planted in the 

 fall, any time from October to Decem- 

 ber, when the weather is favorable. 

 Always have some clay mixed with the 

 soil in which they are planted, and 

 when they commence to bud put plenty 

 of well rotted manure around them. 

 By planting in the fall the small roots 

 have ample time to grow before bloom- 

 ing, which insures vigorous bushes 

 and fine flowers early in March. With 

 proper care we can have roses the 

 year round with the exception of the 

 months of January and February. 

 When the winter is mild it is not un- 

 usual to find a few blossoms during 

 these months on the hardy bushes. 



Violets should be separated and 

 transplanted in the fall to insure an 

 abundance of early blossoms. With 

 us they bloom in the open ground all 

 winter. 



Sweet peas should be planted in Sep- 

 tember or October at the latest, pro- 

 tected during cold weather with 

 straw and manure, and also by draw- 

 ing the earth up around them. The 

 treilis for them to run on should be 

 placed as soon as they begin to run. 



I pot my geraniums for winter 

 blooming during the month of August. 

 They thrive, however, and bloom nice- 

 ly until late in the fall in the open 

 ground. Before the first frost I bring 

 my pots into the sitting room, where 



15 



they remain during the winter. . On 

 mild days I put them out on an east 

 gallery and give shower bath before 

 bringing them in for the night 



I have never had any success with 

 bulbs except the common lily. ,With 

 great care I have succeeded in making 

 a few hyacinths bloom, but have quit 

 entirely the cultivation of bulbs. 



Texas. Mrs. A. Cbain. 



WINTER-BLOOMING PLANTS 



During late August or early Septem- 

 ber I would advise giving plants which 

 are to be taken through the winter 

 whatever care may be needed by them. 

 Most plants will need pots of larger 

 size in order that they may develop 

 roots for active work later on. They 

 will require fresh soil, but don't make 

 the mistake of having it too rich. Use 

 no manure in it when repotting, but 

 later on when the plants have become 

 accustomed to their new quarters and 

 growth begins, some reliable fertilizer 

 can be applied when needed. It is a 

 common mistake among amateur flor- 

 ists to think that all a plant needs, 

 to make ic grow is a rich soil. Fertil- 

 ity is of great importance if given at 

 the right time; apply it when the 

 plants are ready and begin to make 

 strong, healthy growth. 



Provide good drainage. It pays to 

 drain any plant well. Be sure to see 

 that your plants are perfectly clean 

 before taken into the house. We can 

 flght insect enemies effectively before 

 they arrive. Keep them away, and you 

 will have no trouble. Shower plants 

 daily. Give plenty of fresh air. The 

 motto of the amateur florist should be 

 "The best possible and you will suc- 

 ceed." Mrs. R. a. Houk. 



Indiana. 



HYACINTH CULTURE 



Dig down about fifteen inches, put 

 in sandy loam with some well rotted 

 stable manure, mix and pulverize thor- 



