THE FLOl 



the light for a few days until the 

 leaves turn a dark green, then give 

 them sunshine and plenty of water. 

 If they should become dry when down 

 cellar, water them. Sometimes I have 

 to water, at other times I do not. The 

 reason people fail with hyacinths is 

 because they do not give them time 

 enough to make root growth before 

 bringing to the light. There can be 

 no specified time, as some cellars are 

 much warmer than others, and some 

 bulbs are more mature thian others. 

 Connecticut. R. J. Bradley. 



OXALIS CULTURE 



If all flower lovers could grow oxalis 

 as some of us do, the homes of many, 

 at almost no expense, could be made 

 cheering and cultivating. We have 

 been trying it for s6me years and 

 speak from experience. The way to 

 do it is very simple. 



Get the best bulbs you can from a 

 florist. Give them careful attention, 

 enjoy them when they bloom, but re- 

 member to give the plants full oppor- 

 tunity to mature their bulbs. Because 

 they become faded in leaf and no 

 longer bear flowers, don't cast them 

 away. When leaf and stem are dying 

 cut them off and put aside the box or 

 jar and let it alone. In about two 

 months you will find beautifully dried 

 bulbs in the bottom. Select the finest 

 of these for your next planting, give 

 some of the remaining to cheer a 

 neighbor, and throw away the small 

 ones. Do this every year. Now you 

 may be said to be on your feet, and 

 can follow my plan if you wish. In 

 September take a box (with holes in 

 bottom for drainage) eighteen inches 

 long, six wide and four deep. Fill it 

 with good garden earth mixed one- 

 third with decomposed cow manure. 

 Put in your bulbs, in two rows, five 

 inches apart in the row. See that the 

 point of bulb is well up and the bulb 

 itself an inch and a half below the sur- 



L WORLD 3 



face. Press the earth firmly in the 

 box so as to force it an inch below 

 edge of box. (You will have space 

 here for more enriching if needed.) 

 Set the box in the shade and water 

 thoroughly. If the weather be dry, 

 water again when the surface earth 

 shows dryness. When your plants are 

 up keep them well watered. Give 

 them all the light (not sun always) 

 you can, and in a month or two you 

 will have something to be proud of. 



Pursuing this plan, I have now bulbs 

 of the large trailing pink oxalis (which 

 flowers in clusters) measuring over 

 two inches in length by one-half inch 

 through; the leaves measure six 

 inches across or three inches to each 

 lobe, and the flowers are larger than a 

 silver dollar. My Grand Duchess and 

 single white have flowers, even larger. 



South Carolina. John Gadsden. 



WINTER PROTECTION OF ROSES 



I prune out all weak branches, cut 

 back old tops and allow frost to attack 

 them well into December, then mulch 

 them well with rotted manure and 

 straw, tie down the tops, put light 

 litter over them that will not pack or 

 smother them. Put old boxes or bar- 

 rels over them, leave air holes in them, 

 but not large enough for the sun to 

 get in. In the spring, about April 20th, 

 take off barrels. In a few days let 

 the tops up. Now when there is no 

 more danger of the ground freezing 

 nights, remove the light litter and 

 spade the manure in the ground 

 around the plants. This proves very 

 successful here in the Northwest. 

 Many are afraid to try the culture of 

 flowers of any kind here in South Da- 

 kota on account of the wind and cold, 

 h\it I have found no trouble, and write 

 this to help my Western sisters. Pro- 

 tect your roses in this manner and 

 you will save them in any winter 

 weather. J. A. Eves. 



South Dakota. 



