384 



HOME AND FLOWERS 



OUEEEADEES' PEEPLEXITIES 



Tuberoses.— (Mis. A. M. J.) The tube- 

 rose blooms but once at the Xorth. If 

 your plants are two years old, and have 

 had no flowers since you had them^ they 

 had probabl}' blossomed before they were 

 given you. If you send to a reliable 

 dealer he will send you roots from which 

 you can reasonably expect flowers this 

 season. You can grow them in pots or 

 in the open ground. If you prefer to plant 

 them out give them a warm location, a 

 soil of sandy loam made quite rich and 

 dug up well to the depth of at least a foot. 

 Cut off the old roots which are generally 

 attached to the base of each tuber with a 

 sharp knife before planting. 



Several Queries. — (F. J. K.) Ever- 

 lasting flowers and zinnias can be started 

 in the conservatory if you are careful to 

 not water the young plants too freely while 

 small. If kept too wet they will most 

 likely ^^damp off." I would prefer to sow 

 the seeds of the ornamental grasses in the 

 open ground when warm weather comes. 

 I do not know positively, but I should 

 suppose the holly would prove hardy at 

 St. Louis. I know it to be so in many 

 localities in New Jersey. I do not think 

 Boston ivy ever injured any wall by 

 dampness. 



Oxalis. — (E. J.) Buttercup oxalis 

 should be planted in October, if wanted 

 for winter flowering. Put half a dozen 

 roots in a six or seven-inch pot. Use a 

 light, rich, sandy soil. Give the plants 

 a sunny location and a moderate supply 

 of water. If in hanging pots be sure to 

 see that they do not dry out. To make 

 sure of this apply water at least daily. 

 Plant the summer flowering varieties dur- 

 ing April and May, giving them the same 

 treatment advised for the winter blooming 

 sort. 



Floral Fire-Craclver.— (ms. J. M. M.) 

 I do not know the '^^floral fire-cracker." 

 The description you send, which was sent 

 you by the dealer, sounds ^^fishy." 



Plant for Name.— (Mrs. J. S. M.) The 

 specimen sent is Myrtle communis. It 

 is a very satisfactory plant for house cul- 

 ture. Give it a soil of loam, well drained, 

 and use some good fertilizer on it when 

 it is growing, but at no other time. Shower 

 it frequently to keep it free from dust 

 and discourage the red spider. It is also 

 well to wash it frequently in Fir-tree oil 

 soapsuds to prevent the scale from taking 

 possession of it. 



Plant Trouhle.— {ms. E. A. B.) I 

 think, from what you say about the leaves 

 of 3'our plants turning brown and curling 

 at the edges, that they are suffering from 

 the attack of a bacterial disease. This 

 disease can not be got rid of by any or- 

 dinary' application. I know oi but one 

 thing that will eradicate it, and that is 

 Bordeaux mixture, or its substitute, cop- 

 perdine — practically the same thing as the 

 ^'mixture." 



Crape Myrtle and Pomegranate. — (Mrs. 

 A. M. T.) So far as my knowledge goes, 

 there are no nourblooming varieties of 

 these plants. I presume your failure to 

 secure flowers from them is the result of 

 improper treatment. Both should go 

 into the cellar in late fall, and remain 

 there until March. Keep them so dry 

 that their leaves drop, but do not allow 

 the temperature to fall below the frost 

 mark. 



Linum Tryginum. — (Mrs. S. A.) This 

 plant requires about the same treatment 

 as the rose, but as it is sure to fall a vic- 

 tim to the red spider it should be showered ■ 

 at least three times a week. Unless the 

 spider is kept down it is pretty likely to I 

 lose its leaves. After flowering cut the 

 plant back, and put it out-of-doors for the \ 

 summer. Start it into growth again in 

 September or October. 



t 



Buttercup Oxalis. — (Mrs. G. E. S.) It 

 seems to me that any dealer in plants 

 ought to be able to furnish you with this 



