THE FLORAL JVORLD 



13 



ASTERS FOR CUT FLOWERS. 



Asters which rival in beauty the 

 best chrysanthemums may be raised 

 on any good garden soil. 



Send to the most reliable seedsman; 

 don't select the cheaper packets, but 

 the best. For some early asters, plant 

 a few seeds in boxes in the house in 

 April, or March. Transplant them 

 into other boxes when two inches 

 high, and into the garden in May. 

 But for the main crop and best re- 

 sults, sow seed outdoors about June 

 15. When about four leaves have 

 formed, transplant to another bed and 

 a week later again transplant to a 

 permanent bed, setting at least six- 

 teen inches apart, and then the tops 

 will be a tangle when in bloom. Keep 

 well watered — about twice a week in 

 time of drouth — and the ground well 

 hoed between them as often. 



The best kind, I think, are the Sem- 

 pels, the shell pink and the pure 

 white. They have stems twelve to 

 eighteen inches long on each flower, 

 the blossoms three to five inches 

 across and showing no yellow center. 

 Last September I had forty-five fine 

 flowers on one plant. Keep them cut 

 as fast as well open. The main points 

 are, good seed; transplant at least 

 three times; plenty of water; cold, 

 loamy soil; good cultivation. 



Michigan. Mrs. Jennie Life. 



GREENERY FOR EASTER. 



Decorating churches with sprays of 

 evergreen shrubs is carrying out God's 

 injunction by Isaiah: "I will plant in 

 the wilderness the cedar and the myr- 

 tle and the olive tree together," and in 

 another place, "The glory of Lebanon 

 shall come unto thee. The fir tree, 

 the pine tree and the box tree together, 

 to beautify the place of my sanctuary." 

 We take small sprays of cedar and 

 make a complete stand cover, and fes- 

 toon the edges with daphne or myrtle. 

 Use ropes of myrtle to hold festooning 



in place. Remove the leaves from one 

 side of the myrtle, wind this around 

 inch bunches of light green silk floss, 

 for roses, and double the silk to repre- 

 sent the pistils and stamen. Fasten to 

 the top of the other drapery with these 

 roses. Use the cedar Mahonia between 

 the windows. Place the Bermuda lily 

 on this trimmed stand. 



Early spring is the best time to plant 

 Mahonia, daphne, rhododendrons. Strip 

 off the leaves and trim back some. We 

 think best to add leaf mold and some 

 sand. This soil suits their fine roots. 

 If a dry spring, keep a pail of water 

 with a small leak near the shrub, and 

 cover around the base with yard mow- 

 ings. Annie J. Paddock. 



Illinois. 



WATERING HOUSE PLANTS. 



House plants need a great deal more 

 water as the days grow longer and 

 warmer than in midwinter. There is 

 not much danger in overwatering if 

 you have good loose soil and proper 

 drainage and the plants are growing 

 fast or blooming, but if the soil is hard 

 and the plants are dormant or not in 

 full growth, care should be taken not 

 to apply too much water. Over-water- 

 ing does untold harm. It causes sour 

 soil and finally yellow and falling 

 leaves. A safe rule for the amateur 

 florist to follow is to water when the 

 surface looks dry. Water about the 

 temperature of the room should be 

 used in winter and spring. 



Umbrella plants, callas, oxalis, vinca. 

 oleanders and others require pieniy of 

 water. The best way to water them is 

 to set the pots in shallow pans of tepid 

 water and let stand until the top of the 

 soil looks quite moist. Cacti, begonias 

 and ivy geraniums require but little 

 water. If too much water is given the 

 begonia it will wilt as though it need- 

 ed water; when in this condition, if 

 more water is applied, it is liable to 

 kill the plant. 



lovs^a. Mary B. Keech. 



