AMOXG THE FLOWERS WITH BEXFORD 



169 



OTE EE A DEES' PEEPLEXITIES 



A Thin Lawn. — "Tlie sward on our 

 lawn has been verv thin this season. What 

 can we do to unprove it? Can any thing- 

 be done now. or must we wait nntil next 

 spring — C. 



I woiikl advise the application of finely 

 ground bone meal. Apply a liberal dress- 

 ing of it now, and again in early spring. 

 It wonld also be well in spring to scatter 

 seed of lawn grasses over the old sward. 

 To keep a lawn in good condition it mitst 

 never be neglected. If the soil is allowed 

 to become exhausted a weak growth of 

 grass will resnlt. Therefore make use lib- 

 erally of snch fertilizers as seem best 

 adapted to secnre a luxuriant growth of 

 grass. Bone meal is one of the best ones. 

 Stable manures are rich in nutriment, but 

 they are objectionable for use on the lawn 

 because they contain the seed of so many 

 weeds. 



Cinerarias. — 'T have bought some cin- 

 eraria plants, but do not know anything 

 about them. The florist said they would 

 bloom in winter. Please tell me how to 

 lake care of them." — Mrs. W. H. B. 



Give your cinerarias plenty of light, a 

 moderate amount of water, and a weekly 

 application of fertilizer when they begin 

 to bloom. They should be kept in a tem- 

 perature of sixty-five to seventy-five de- 

 grees. Watch them well or they will suf- 

 fer from the aphis. If any insects are 

 found on them prepare a bath of water 

 and nicotine extract, and spray the plants 

 well, being very sure that the water 

 reaches the under side of the foliage. Cin- 

 erarias are extremely showy plants, and 

 give excellent satisfaction in winter, if 

 not injured by the aphis. A.fter flowering 

 throw the plants away, as they are not 

 worth carrying over. Strong, healthy 

 seedling plants should always be depended 

 on for winter use. 



Fuchsias in the Cellar. — Should fuch- 

 sias be watered while in the cellar ? AYhen 

 should they be put there?" — Mrs. G. F. 



Give no water unless the soil seems to 



be getting dust dry — then just enough to 

 impart a little moisture. If the soil 

 is moist all through when the plant is put 

 away, and the temperature of the cellar is 

 as cool as it ought to be in order to win- 

 ter dormant plants well, it will not be 

 necessary to apply any. Fuchsias ought 

 to go into winter quarters about the first 

 of December. Do not be alarmed if they 

 lose their leaves. All deciduous plants 

 ottt-of-doors do this, and cold storage is 

 simply an imitation of nature's methods. 



Hardy Red Rose. — "I want a hardy red 

 rose of the hybrid perpetual class, which 

 will come out in spring with thrifty stalks. 

 Is there such a one — and will it need pro- 

 tection?"— S. J. W. 



I think Gen. Jacqueminot as good a 

 variety as you can select. It is beautiful 

 in form, color, and general habit, and de- 

 lightfully fragrant. It is quite as hardy 

 as any of its class, but at the Xorth it 

 must have protection. AU hybrid per- 

 petuals must, if we would bring them 

 through without loss of most of last sea- 

 son's growth. Yott can set rose plants 

 during the fall with entire safety. Many 

 of our most successful rose growers advo- 

 cate fall planting in preference to spring- 

 planting. Set them as soon as possible 

 after the ripening of the season's foliage 

 and growth. 



Lily-of-the-V alley. — 'Tan I force the 

 lilv-of-the-vallev to flower in winter?" — 



a: g. k. 



Amateurs seldom succeed with this 

 plant, because it requires a treatment 

 quite unlike that demanded by such bulbs 

 as are easily forced. To secure good re- 

 sults it must be subjected to a very high 

 temperature that will force the bulbs 

 with great rapidity. Living room con- 

 ditions are not favorable to such develop- 

 ment. Xine times out of ten the amateur 

 fails to secure any flowers, therefore I 

 seldom advise anyone not having a green- 

 house to attempt its culture. 



