OXLY A LITTLE FLOWEF 



27 



ing point attached. Discard as much as 

 possible of the old, hardened growth. 



It is a good plan to cut away all the old 

 branches at the time of repotting. Water 

 the plants well, and then set them away 

 in a dark corner to form new roots. As 

 a general thing, no more water will be 

 needed Tintil the plant begins to grow. 

 The old roots, being tuberous in character, 

 have a supply of moisture quite sufficient 

 to meet all their requirements until new 

 feeders are sent out. The production of 

 new branches will not take place until 

 such roots are formed. 



This plant does well in a soil of loam 

 and sand — better, indeed, than in a light 

 soil, which many seem to think it needs 

 because they consider it a variety of 

 Fern. It is in no sense a Fern, and the 

 only thing it has in c 3mmon with a Fern 

 is its liking for partial shade. 



The Aster. — At this season the merit 

 of the annual Aster as a late flowering 

 will be readily apparent to all who gr(?w 

 it. We have no flower that excels it in 

 profusion, except the Chrysanthemum, 

 and for garden-use it is far superior to 

 that. Some of the latest varieties are likely 

 to be in their prime -when cold weather 

 comes. A severe frost would put an end 

 to their usefulness in the garden. But 

 such plants can be potted and removed 

 to the house, where they will last for weeks. 

 I speak of this now, that those who have 

 late Asters may take proper care of them 

 before tbev have suffered any injury from 

 cold ^v^eather. A good-sized plant will 

 nearly fill a window of ordinary size. We 

 have few flowers that last longer after cut- 

 ting. If the water in which you place 

 them "is changed frequently, it is possible 

 to keep them for a fortnight without their 

 showing any sign of fading, or dropping 

 their petals. Another peculiarity of theirs 

 is that of developing the small flowers 

 along the lower part of the stalk quite as 



perfectly as those above. These are often 

 more desirable than the upper flowers, be- 

 cause of their smallness. They are better 

 adapted to the requirements of personal 

 decoration, and for small vases they are 

 almost equal to Roses. 



HoUyhochs in Fall. — As a general 

 thing, we do not get a great many flowers 

 from these plants after the present month, 

 but we may have a profuse bloom, late in 

 the season, if we are careful to prevent 

 the formation of seed during the summer 

 and early fall months. I make a practice 

 of going over my plants every day, and 

 removing every flower as soan as it fades. 

 This prevents the exhaustion of the plant, 

 for one thing, and gives it a neat, tidy 

 look, for another. Old stalks to which 

 driod-up flowers still cling are not par- 

 ticularly attractive. Treated in this man- 

 ner, the plants will often throw up new 

 flower-sfalks from the base of the plant, 

 and give flowers until the coming of win- 

 ter. These stalks are seldom as tall as 

 those produced in summer, but their flow- 

 ers are nearly as large, and quite as attrac- 

 tive. A Hollyhock which is allowed to 

 develop seed is not worth much after 

 September. 



Only a Little Flower 



BY GLEiS' I. KEEXEY. 



I am only a little flower. 



Growing along the way. 

 Yet I gladden the hearts of the men of toil 



As they pass at the close of day. 



I am only a little flower — 



.A daisy, growing wild. 

 Yet I may teach a beautiful thought 



To some little wondering child. 



I am only a little flower. 



Giving all the joy I can ; 

 Thus I fill a place in this beautiful worlds 



As a part of God's great plan. 



