THEY SAY. 



503 



Spiraea trilobata. — One of the most serviceable of 

 the spireas is the subject of our illustration, 6'. trilo- 

 bata, often known as .V. triloba. It is perfectly hardy 

 in our northern states. It makes a large, compact, 

 round-headed bush four or five feet high. It is one of 

 our freest bloomers. The flowers are white, borne in 

 dense clusters. — L. H. B. 



The Scarlet Geranium. — The scarlet geranium, as 

 it is called, or Pelnrgoniiim zonale, has become a general 

 favorite with all classes of people. Its various shades of 

 color, from brilliant scarlet to pure white, are most 

 attractive and highly valued. It is one of the leading 

 ornaments of the garden in both city and country, and 

 no lady thinks her window-garden complete without it. 

 It is a perpetual bloomer, and unsurpassed in attractive- 

 ness when planted in beds or masses on a lawn. It is a 

 tropical plant, and therefore will not stand much frost. 

 It is easily propagated from cuttings and will grow toler- 

 ably well in any common garden soil. 



After a bed of geraniums has been nipped by the 

 frost and become unsightly, they may be dug up, the 

 earth shaken from the roots, and after having been de- 

 prived of all their leaves may be packed in dry earth or 

 sand in the cellar, where they will keep very well till 

 time of planting out in spring. Sometimes they keep 



SPIR^AD TKILOBATA. 



well hung up in a cellar where frost does not enter, 

 but this cannot be depended on. Well rotted stable or 

 barnyard manure makes them grow strong, tall and 

 luxuriant, but is not conducive to line large trusses of 

 flowers. Whoever wants fine blooms and short stocky 

 plants must have resource to fertilizers, and the best of 

 these I have found to be pure bone-meal. No matter, 

 almost, how poor the soil at the time of planting, if a 

 handful of bone-meal be well mixed through the earth 

 around each plant, it will cause it to flower profusely, 

 and the flowers will be very much larger than those 

 stimulated by stable or barnyard manure. If ladies 

 would be particular to use more bone-meal when potting 

 their geraniums in the fall or planting out in spring they 

 would be well rewarded by a profusion of very large 

 blooms, which is the chief end and object of all their 



care in nursing, both summer and winter, this very de- 

 sirable plant called scarlet geranium. — Bone-meal is 

 also- valuable for many other flowering plants. — T. B., 



Trenton, N. J. 



Hollyhocks. 



Pull the horses up and stop, 



At this roadside let us rest ; 

 On that green bank what a crop 



Rising to its very crest ! 

 Colors white, and pink, and yellow, 



Growing up above the rocks ; 

 Colors bright and colors mellow 



Blended in those hollyhocks ! 



Lifting Chrysanthemum Plants. — The plants should 

 be lifted carefully, disturbing the roots and ball of soil 

 as little as possible ; the pot sufficiently large to take 

 the ball, and large according to the size of the plant ; 

 give a soaking watering, and at once place the plant 

 under shade, not crowded ; have a free circulation 

 of air about and over every plant, yet protected from 

 the winds ; syringe the leaves several times a day for 

 four days, then the shade may be removed, and there- 

 after water in the pot as is needed. Mr. P. had 500 

 plants which had grown too large for his pots. Septem- 

 ber 23 he was lifting and potting in pots two sizes too 

 small, and then placing them close together in the sun, 

 where they remained for several hours without being 

 watered. After all were potted, they were watered and 

 covered with boards close above the plants. Mr. P. 

 knows better ; but then, 'tis his way. The result would 

 be, the lower leaves die and drop, and the flowers imper- 

 fect and small. Mr. L. lifted a large plant September 

 i8th, with buds the size of a large pea. The ground 

 was dry and loose. He first removed the top soil, form- 

 ing a basin around the plant, and gave a soaking water- 

 ing for two days ; then inserted a concaved spade all 

 around, cutting oft' all the extending roots to the size of 

 the pot, carefully lifting and placing the ball in a 14- 

 inch tub, first placing some dry soil in the bottom, and 

 filled with dry soil and a rich top dressing ; then gave a 

 soaking watering, placed it under an open shed, syringed 

 the leaves twice daily for five days, and then moved it 

 into a ' ' snug harbor " in the full sun, thereafter watering 

 as often as needed. At no time was there noticed any 

 wilting of the leaves, and the buds continued to grow. 

 It received no apparent check. ' The flowers will be 

 good. Mr. A. lifted six ordinary sized plants Septem- 

 ber 5th, showing buds the size of a small pea. The 

 ground was dry when he inserted a clasp digger, cutting 

 upon two sides to a six-inch ball, lifting the ball and 

 dropping it into an eight-inch pot, filling with dry soil, 

 then a soaking watering and placed at once in a shaded 

 greenhouse ; was not syringed, but was watered in the 

 pot daily. I saw the plants again two weeks after 

 wards, when the leaves had lost their bright green 

 color. Many were dead and dropping, and the buds 

 had not enlarged. Evidently, the plants had received a 

 severe check, from which they probably will not fully 

 recover, nor will there be good blooms. — John Lane, 

 CJiioago. 



