Our Readers' Perplexities 



Seedlings in the House. — (A. S. E.) It is 

 because* tlie experience of nine-tenths of those 

 who attempt to get the start of the season, by 

 ■somng seeds in the honse, tallies so closely with 

 yours, that I do not advise any one to under- 

 take the growing of plants from seed in the 

 house in spring. The temperature must be con- 

 trolled to a nicety in order to insure success, 

 and watering must be very carefully done. The 

 fact is, the conditions are artificial, and a little, 

 tender seedling has not sufficient vitality to 

 adapt itself to them. Those who attempt to 

 secure early flowers in this way almost invari- 

 ably come in behind their neighbors who sow 

 seed in the garden beds. 



Fcose Troufc?e.— (Mrs. W. B. E.) You do not 

 tell me whether your Eose is out-of-doors or in 

 the house. In the house Eoses often fail to 

 grow well because of too high and dry a tem- 

 perature. The *'sj)ots'' you complain of are 

 often found on Eoses out-of-doors and in, and 

 is termed "blackspot." It is a disease, obscure 

 in its origin, and as yet not wholly controllable. 

 Bordeaux mixture, or its substitute where small 

 quantities are required, copperdine, is the most 

 effective remedy. High cultivation has a ten- 

 dency to diminish the force of it by increasing 

 Tiie vitality of the plant. 



Bulbs and Geraniums.— (Ij. K. P.) You can 

 never depend on a bulb that has been forced to 

 furnish a second crop of flowers. In order to 

 7iiaJce sure of flowers you must procure fresh 

 bulbs each season. If you intend to make use 

 of your Greraniums in the house next winter 

 you must not allow them to bloom this summer. 

 Cut them back well, and never allow them to 

 make long shoots. You can prevent this by 

 nipping off the ends of the branches which seem 

 inclined to get the start of the othejs. 



Bull) Failing to Grow.— (Miss E. I. S.) You 

 do not tell me how you treated the Tulip which 

 failed to grow. Something was evidently wrong 

 with the treatment, but what I am unable to 

 say because of lack of information. I can give 

 no definite answer to any query that does not 

 give me data on which to base an opinion. An 

 opinion given in answer to a bare statement that 

 SL plant is sick — what ails it? would of course 

 be notliing but guess-work. 



Bordeaux Mixture and Copperdine. — (T. W. 

 €.) It is a difficult matter for the amateur to 

 prepare Bordeaux mixture satisfactorily in 

 small quantities. Because of this fact copper- 

 dine has been prepared as a concentrated sub- 

 stitute for it. The larger plant dealers, like 



Henderson, Dreer, Vaughan, can furnish it in 

 five-pound jars at a reasonable price, and this 

 amount will go a long way. Directions for use 

 accompany it. 



Eemedy for Worms in Pot P?a)ifs.— Mrs. Ida 

 E. Cozins, Sheakleyvilie, Pennsylvania, writes: 

 '*Tf those who are troubled with small white 

 worms in soil and flies about their plants will 

 pound up horse-chestnuts and boil them and put 

 the water on the soil when warm — enough to wet 

 all the soil well — the worms will come to the 

 surface, and they can be removed." Thank yoa. 

 Such advice is very gladly received. 



Azalea.— (Mrs. N. U. C.) I would advise 

 you to sink the pot containing your Azalea in 

 ground in summer. Put a layer of ashes under 

 it to keep out worms. Be sure it never gets dry 

 at the roots. This is of the greatest importance. 

 A little neglect will result in the loss of flowers 

 next season. Put it in a comparatively sunny 

 place, but one sheltered from the hot afternoon 

 sun. 



Eoses in Beds.— {^L P. McK.) If you can 

 lay the Eoses named down and cover with a foot 

 of leaves, putting branches, wire netting, or 

 something similar on top to keep them from 

 being blown away, I think you can winter 

 them safely out-of-doors. If you are afraid to 

 risk it, take them up and pack in boxes of earth 

 and store in cool cellar. 



Mildew on J?oses.— (Miss E. E. K.) Mildew 

 sometimes results from exposure to cold drafts 

 — sometimes from lowered vitality. If there 

 is exposure to cold winds, do something to put 

 an end to it. It may be necessary to remove the 

 plants to a more sheltered location. Dig well 

 rotted manure in about the roots of the plants, 

 and prune closely. 



Asparagus.— ('Mi^'^i J. I. M.) Xeither Aspar- 

 agus Sprengeri nor Plumosus requires a great 

 deal of water. Keep in partial shade. Give rich, 

 sandy soil. Allow them to get some rest each 

 summer by withholding full supply of water for 

 two or three months, but do not put them in 

 the cellar in winter. They should be at their 

 best then. 



Pelargoniujns— (A. M. K.) In order to get 

 flowers from these plants cut them back in 

 late summer and repot into rather small pots. 

 Do not encourage rank growth until January or 

 February. Keep them in a cool place, and in 

 the sun. TThen active growth begins apply a 

 good fertilizer. Cut back sharply each season. 



