BORDER VARIETIES. 
75 
plants frequently continue in blossom until quite late in 
October, every means that is possible should be taken to 
prolong their display. For this reason, spent blossoms should 
be cut out from time to time, otherwise, with the moister 
weather, and the heavy dews that prevail in the late summer 
and early autumn, the fast fading blooms will become one 
mass of decaying florets, and other blooms developing round 
them will, in consequence, be contaminated. Remove such 
spent blossoms before they get into this state, that those 
remaining on the sprays may be preserved as long as possible. 
When the whole of the spray has finished its period of flower- 
ing, it should be cut out altogether, thus permitting other 
growths of more recent development to continue their progress, 
and produce their display in turn. Some of the earliest kinds 
are better cut down when almost the whole of their flowers are 
past their best. 
Not infrequently, new growths develop from the base of the 
old plants, and from their earliest history have a bud at their 
apex. These later series of growths will often make a delight- 
ful display quite late in the season, and of this particular type 
there is a now goodly number. Take particular care before 
the plants finish their display that each one has its label 
securely tied to the old stem, or, failing this, a label of goodly 
proportions inserted in such a way that there can be no mistake 
as to which plant it refers to. In this way one may safely rely 
upon the perpetuation of the different kinds without running 
any risks. When gathering the blossoms, it is a good rule to 
cut out the more crowded blooms from among the freely- 
flowered sprays. In some instances, it may be better to cut 
the spray as a whole, such pieces making delightful decorative 
material for vases and other large receptacles. 
Culture against Walls, etc.— The garden sorts, in 
many instances, are specially well suited to cover walls and 
fences, but so far little appears to have been done in this 
direction. The freer growing kinds are better suited for this 
particular purpose, as their ample growths should quickly cover 
unsightly walls and fences, and make them plants of beauty 
during the flowering season. The stronger growing kinds are 
eminently well suited for this purpose, and that growths of a 
