THE FLOKAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 
91 
Tie for Standard Roses. — The best and simplest is that invented 
by Mr. Wilkinson, nurseryman, of Ealing ; it makes a capital strong 
neat tie, and the plant is thoroughly secured. It is merely a band 
of soaked straw, tied with strong string between the plant and the 
stake, and again at the back of the stake. 
Varnish for Rustic Seats. — One quart of boiled linseed oil 
and two ounces of asphaltum, to be boiled on a slow fire till the 
asphalte is dissolved, being kept stirred to prevent it boiling over. 
This gives a fine, dark oak colour, is not sticky, and looks well for a 
year. Or, first wash the furniture with soap and water, and when 
dry, on a sunny day, do it over with common boiled linseed oil ; 
leave that to dry a day or two, then varnish it over once or twice 
with hard varnish. If well done, this will last for years, and prevent 
annoyance from insects. 
How to Turn Plants out of Pots. — Open a hole with a trowel, 
and drop the pot into it, level with the general surface, and fill 
round the pot so as to imbed it neatly, pressing the earth to it with 
the hand, just as if the pot with the plant in it were to remain there. 
Then give the pot a twist round and lift it out, and there will remain 
a clear firm hole, ready for the ball that is to be dropped into it. 
Pjace two or three fingers of the left hand on the soil of the pot, 
make the palm of the hand into a hollow, so as not to break the 
tender plant, turn the pot up, give the rim a gentle tap on the side 
of the wheelbarrow, and presto ! you will have the ball neat and 
complete in your hand, and have odIv to turn it over neatly into the 
hole, which it fits exactly. Dress the earth up to it, and you will 
have planted it without hurtiug the tenderest spoDgiole of its many 
juvenile roots. In re-potting and bedding out, whenever you wish 
to keep the ball entire, proceed in the same way, and you will never 
have an accident. When all are planted gather up the pots and 
take care of them, another rule applicable to bedding generally; give 
a good watering, and the next day rake the surface over, and make 
all neat and tidy. 
Gabdener’s Boots to Waterproof. — A pint of boiled linseed 
oil, half a pound of mutton suet, six ounces ot clean bees’-wax, and 
four ounces of resin, are to be melted and well mixed over a fire. 
Of this, while warm, but not hot enough to shrink the leather, with 
a brush lay on plentifully over new boots anil shoes, when quite dry 
and clean. The leather remains pliant. The New England fisher- 
men preserve their boots water-tight by this method, which, it is 
said, has been in use among them above one hundred years. They 
can thus stand in water hour after hour without inconvenience. 
Crickets to Poison. — Take one pint of oatmeal and two ounces 
of arsenic, together with a little ground aniseed and caraway seed, 
mixed with it. This should be laid on pieces of paper, in convenient 
places for the crickets to partake of it. Also arsenic and honey inay 
be mixed together and laid about for them in the same way ; but 
they will most readily partake of the former. 
Another. — Equal parts of gravel, well screened, and clean river 
or pit sand. With five parts of the mixture of gravel and sand, 
mix one part of Portland cement. Mix with water, and apply two 
inches thick. 
M&rch. 
