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HOME AND FLOWERS 



there is considerable clay. Bone meal is 

 a good fertilizer. So is phosphate. But 

 srs all soils do not require the same fer- 

 tilizer^ I would advise 3^ou to tell the dealer 

 ©f whom you order your plants what the 

 nature of your particular soil is, and let 

 him advise you as to what fertilizer to 

 apply. 



Tulips.— (¥. C. T.) Bulbs which 

 bloom in spring, under natural conditions, 

 are generally vvorthless unless planted in 

 the fall. They lose their vitality by being 

 kept out of the ground during the winter. 

 If you want some cheerful flowers next 

 winter, without much trouble, try growing 

 the Eoman hyacinth, the baby pjimrose, 

 and buttercup oxalis. 



Frecsias for Winter. — (Mrs. Jennings.) 

 Pot bulbs of the freesia in September and 

 October, half a dozen to a pot, in rich 

 loam. Do not put away in the dark to 

 form roots. Simply keep them rather on 

 the dry side until growth starts. Then 

 water more freely. Be sure to keep from 

 frost. 



Riibher Plant.— {IslTS. Matthews.) The 

 rubber plant often ripens and drops its 

 leaves. All plants do the same. If your 

 plant is healthy let it alone. Give it a 

 fertilizer only when growing, and then 

 little and often, rather than in strong 

 doses. Too large an application is sure 

 to result disastrously to most plants. 



Flies About Pot PIa?its.— (MTS. S. H. 

 K.) Limewater is a standard remedy. 

 But it does very little good if applied in 

 small quantities and infrequently. Use 

 enough of it to wet the soil all through, 

 and repeat the operation as long as there 

 are any worms or flies to get rid of. 



Sago PaZm.— (Mrs. B. T. J.) It is 

 the nature of this palm to stand still part 

 of the time, and nothing will induce it 

 to make more growth until it gets ready 

 to do so. When standing still give but 

 very little water, and absolutely no fer- 

 tilizer. 



Bougainvillea. — There are two varie- 

 ties of this plant in general cultivation. 

 Glabra, an old favorite, and Sanderiana, 

 a new candidate foi" favor. The latter is 

 dwarf in habit, and a very profuse 

 bloomer. It is well adapted to pot cul- 

 ture. 



Cutworms. — (Mrs. Taft.) These are 

 difficult creatures to deal with, as they 

 come out and do their work at times when 

 you are not on the lookout for them. Bran 

 soaked in arsenic water is often scattered 

 about the places infested by them. 



Scale on Boston Fern. — Apply an in- 

 fusion of Fir-tree oil soap, and go over the 

 plant frond by frond with a toothpick and 

 remove all the scales you can. If too badly 

 infested it may be advisable to cut off all 

 the old growth. 



Peonies. — These fine plants require a 

 rich soil. One containing considerable 

 clay loam is better than a very sandy one, 

 though they are quite accommodating, and 

 will grow very well in almost any soil. 



Failure with Crinum. — (S. A. Y.) 

 Write to the parties of whom you pur- 

 chased the plant, and ask them the treat- 

 ment it requires. Knowing its variety, 

 they will know what care it needs. 



Boohs on Botany. — If the correspondent 

 who asks for books on botany will wTite to 

 any of our educational publishing houses 

 they will willingly give such information 

 as may be at their disposal. 



Orchids.— {B. C. H.) To grow orchids 

 you need a house in which the temperature 

 can be regulated to suit the plants at dif- 

 ferent periods of growth. It cannot be 

 done in the dwelling. 



Flower Pots Wanted. — Write to the 

 dealer from whom you purchase plants, 

 and he will give 5^ou the addresses of par- 

 ties handling pots. 



Century Plant. — (Mrs. H. E.) I know 

 of no method by which the flowering of 

 the century plant can be hastened. 



