SUGGESTIONS FOR THE MONTH 
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Garden 
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Where the home is occupied all the year round certain changes in 
the furnishing should be made early in the summer to give the house 
a cool and inviting look. The heavy draperies and floor coverings 
can be removed, and where the floors are not finished, or of hard¬ 
wood, matting substituted for the carpets, producing an airy and 
attractive appearance. Many housekeepers remove all draperies 
at doors and windows for the summer months, depending entirely 
upon the window shades for moderating the light, but where it is 
possible a much more home-like effect is kept in the house by sub¬ 
stituting muslin or madras drapery for the heavier curtains. If 
over-draperies are to be used, these may be of glazed chintz, linen 
taffeta, cretonne, or any of the pretty cotton prints which can be 
purchased so cheaply. Where this same material is used also for 
the slip covers of furniture, the effect is excellent. 
It is a mistake to feel that during the summer months, house 
plants are unnecessary decorative adjuncts. There is no time 
during the year when growing green things are more acceptable or 
more truly fill a decorative place indoors. Windows when possible 
should be carefully screened. Wire screens may be purchased 
very cheaply and are adjustable to almost any window. The dark 
green wire netting also serves to filter and soften the glare of sun¬ 
light and render the room more comfortable. 
July is the month which most frequently finds the city house 
closed and left in the hands of the care-taker, or servants, and is 
therefore, an excellent time to have the plumbing inspected, the 
window enlarged, the door cut between the adjoining chambers, 
the new bath put in, or any improvements made which have 
long been planned. 
It is a tremendous saving and comfort to the household generally 
when these improvements can be made in the absence of the family. 
Well planned and definitely decided upon, the execution of these 
can be left in the hands of a competent contractor. He should be 
consulted before deciding in what condition to leave the rooms. 
Often when only slight changes are to be made, it is quite unneces¬ 
sary to remove all furniture, etc. Careful shrouding of it in the 
usual summer coverings will be all that is necessary. Rugs and 
floor coverings may go to a cleaner and remain during this time 
of renovation, together with the heavier draperies. 
It is the custom in most well regulated, though often simple and 
modest homes for the housekeeper to have the house thoroughly 
gone over each season during the family’s absence, or at the time 
that at least some of the summer trips are under way. When this 
is done annually, (if no alterations are to be made in the house), it 
becomes a matter of little time and expense to have all woodwork 
and floors touched up and done over. Where new paper is to be 
hung, this should be arranged for at the same time, that all may be 
in readiness for the winter season. 
Mahogany furniture should be carefully covered during the 
heated months in the city. The “blue dust” which shows itself 
on all exposed pieces, is difficult to remove without refinishing the 
furniture. This applies equally to rosewood and other highly 
polished woods. Oil paintings which are not glassed should be 
covered with cheesecloth, if hung in an unused room, or should be 
boxed and glazed for the summer at least. 
Where the floors are fully carpeted, a cool and attractive ap¬ 
pearance may be given the room by covering them with heavy 
canvas; a few rugs may also be used effectively. Where it seems 
desirable to leave the heavy draperies at doors and windows, they 
may be covered with the same material as is used for the slip 
covers of the furniture. 
Cultivate the asparagus bed and keep the grass from crowding it 
out. It should receive a liberal application of well rotted manure. 
Some authorities contend that salt is a good fertilizer to be applied 
at this season, but that is an open question and its use is not 
advised if there is any other fertilizer, known to be good, available. 
I he strawberry bed is now through bearing for the season. If 
it is more than three years old, it has practically run out and should 
be turned under by deep spading or plowing so that the sod will rot. 
The soil will then be ready tor new plants in the early fall. A 
great many make new beds at this time. With favorable seasons, 
or if kept well watered artificially, the plants will attain sufficient 
growth to hear a profitable crop next year. 
How about bare spots on the lawn ? If there are any they will 
now show up in all their unsightliness and should either be raked 
over and seeded or sodded. If more food is needed, broadcast 
some fertilizer just before a rain. Nitrate of soda is good, and the 
proper proportion is about ioo pounds per acre. See to it that 
dandelions or other troublesome weeds are not allowed to go to 
seed on the lawn. 
Look after the hybrid perpetual roses. The June blooming 
over, they should be cut back, cultivated and fertilized. By 
this process a more vigorous growth will be secured, and it is on 
this growth the gardener must depend for occasional hlooms which 
follow the first blooming. If the bushes do not receive this treat¬ 
ment many of them will not bloom again during the entire season. 
Tea roses will need attention at least every two weeks when all 
the old branches, which have developed their buds, should be 
clipped. As with the hybrid perpetuals, blooms can only be 
expected from new growths of the plant. It is essential that the 
plant be kept constantly developing and, consequently, in a healthy 
condition. 
During this and next month the chrysanthemum plants must 
attain their full development, as plants, if satisfactory blooms are 
to be obtained. It is necessary that they be kept growing rapidly, 
and to secure this rapid growth keep the soil stirred and reasonably 
moist. A good fertilizer of fine bone-meal or liquid cow manure 
should be liberally applied. A few drops of ammonia water, well 
diluted, poured about the roots once a week or ten days, just at 
this time, will greatly stimulate the growth. 
The shapeliness of the chrysanthemum plant should be watched, 
for of all plants an awkwardly shaped chrysanthemum is the 
worst. Pinch back the most robust branches to secure uniformity 
of growth. It may be necessary to sacrifice some of the most 
vigorous branches in order to secure the desired symmetry, but do 
it if needs doing—the sightliness of the plant will more than recom¬ 
pense any loss of blooms. 
Campanula (Canterbury bells, bell flowers, slipperwood) is a 
genus comprising perennial, biennial and annual flowering plants. 
(Continued on page 8, Advertising Section.) 
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