trenched and rendered porous by the addition of strawy manure, leaf 
mould, road scrapings and burnt rubbish. 
Wood Manurial Value of Wood Ashes: At this time of the year there is 
Ashes much garden refuse in the way of tree and bush cHpping, cabbage 
stalks, etc. This material can be all turned to account by collecting 
together and burning. The resultant ash is one of the best manures 
obtainable, especially if a little lime be mixed with it. On heavy clay 
soils a dressing of ashes wDl lighten it and render it more fit for cul- 
tivation, and where wireworm and other pests abound a supply of 
charred refuse instead of animal manure will tend to lessen their 
ravages. There is no dearth of material in most gardens, and the 
bonfire will prove a blessing both as regards the tidiness of the garden 
and in the increase of fertilizing material. 
The Gardener. 
Peonies If your peonies have shown any sign of disease during the summer, 
be careful to bum all stalks and leaves to lessen the possibility of fur- 
ther infection. As a sanitary measure it is an excellent plan to cut the 
stalks, letting them fall over the plant and bum them as they have 
fallen. This should be done while the stalks and leaves are slightly 
damp that the fire may smolder for some time, rather than bum hotly 
for a few minutes. 
Iris Rot Iris rot and Iris worm are two pests which so far have wrought 
havoc in Iris gardens unchecked. Mrs. Colin S. McKinney of 
Madison, New Jersey, is responsible for these remedies: — 
Iris Rot. Dissolve tablets of Corrosive Sublimate i-iooo, and 
spray on the affected leaves, which show a purplish streak. If the 
rot has reached the roots, dig them up, cutting away all affected parts, 
and paint the corrosive sublimate on the wound. This is an absolute 
check to the disease. 
The moth of the Iris worm lays its eggs at the base of the leaves 
during the spring. The worm digs its way down into the root after 
it has run a little way up into the leaf for its first diet of greens. A 
light burning-over in the spring will destroy the eggs before they hatch. 
Burn leaves or light rubbish which does not make too hot a fire. 
Henrietta M. Stout. 
Protecting At Hillcrest we were fortunate in losing few of our roses last winter. 
Roses in As we hear that this was not the general experience, we are glad to give 
Winter our method. We first cover them with soil much as we do our rasp- 
berries. Over the soil we place the autumn leaves, then boughs of pine 
from our woods. These pine boughs were probably the reason for our 
success last winter, the spring of the boughs protected the roses from 
the heavy weight of the snow. Horticulture. 
38 
