Suggestions for the Month 
It is a good precaution to look at the furs and see 
that they are safe from the ravages oi moths, for if 
they have not been properly cleansed before they 
were put away, it is at this time the mischief is being 
done. 
Indeed, there are no end of things one can do in 
August and rejoice to have.done later, such, for ex¬ 
ample, as the dusting of the library bookshelves and 
the rearrangement of the coat closet. A rainy day 
now and then is a help and every bit of work done in 
August is to be accounted clear gain. 
The question of the evenings has to he considered, 
as well as the days, and happy indeed is the house¬ 
holder, who solves the problem of light without heat. 
Japanese lanterns can be attractively used, and 
electroliers so shaded, that they appear charmingly 
picturesque. These little expedients for tricking the 
imagination are a help and eminently worth trying. 
THE GARDEN 
PLEASING winter flower for the window is 
the mignonette; it is of delightful fragrance. 
As it is one of the very few plants which cannot be 
grown from transplanting, it must he grown from the 
seed. Sow the seed now in pots, where the plants are 
to remain. Keep the plants in a thriving, growing 
condition and they will bloom nicely in winter. 
This is the best time to make rubber plant propa¬ 
gations. Take the cuttings and wrap a handful of 
sphagnum moss or other fine fibrous substance about 
the stems and soak thoroughly with water. In a 
remarkably short time roots will begin to emit and 
the cuttings can then be potted, using a light soil mixed 
with sand. If then kept well watered, the roots will 
take firm hold and the plants will grow off rapidly. 
It is not advisable to keep carnations, which are to 
he potted, out later than this month. Also, all tender 
greenhouse plants which have been out in the open 
during the summer should be potted during the 
month. 
Growing potted strawberries both as a pastime and 
for practical utility, is rapidly gaining favor. The 
plants should he potted now. Later fall planting is 
successful under certain conditions, but there is hut 
little, if any, uncertainty about summer or August 
planting. By the potting method space can be 
greatly economized and much finer berries grown. 
Even if the bed method is what is desired, the best 
results are obtained from pot grown runners. 
There is no better time than this to thin out clumps 
that have become too thick, or to rearrange groupings 
in the hardy border. Soak the plants well with water 
before removing them. Exercise a little care in the 
handling and transplanting and the growth of the 
plants will scarcely he checked. 
As the weather warms up, there is a disposition to 
relax energy in all kinds of garden work. But if 
the surroundings are to he kept tidy and pleasing, 
considerable work must be done. Vines must be kept 
in position, dead leaves and dried up flowers removed 
from the plants, and weeds eradicated from the lawn. 
Vigilance counts for much in the success of garden 
work. A sharp lookout must he kept for the aster 
beetle, the green and the black fly. For the former, 
nothing better can be suggested than hand picking. 
Chickens, if permitted in the yard early in the morn¬ 
ings, will pick up many of them. They will not 
damage any thing by a short stay at this time of the 
year. The fight against the flies is best conducted 
with kerosene emulsion. The black fly is specially 
troublesome about the chrysanthemums. The buds 
are often injured by this pest. The black aphis will 
probably also be troublesome about the chrysanthe¬ 
mum plants. 
Look closely after the roses which are to bloom in 
the fall. The ground should he stirred about the 
roots of the plants and food should he given in the 
form of pulverized or liquid manure. Dead or 
injured branches should he removed. The results of 
attention will be more than compensative. 
Having in mind home-grown flowers for Christmas, 
and nothing can be more pleasing for the festal occa¬ 
sion, the bulbs should be potted during this month. 
With proper attention daffodils and narcissus may 
he had from Thanksgiving through the Christmas 
holidays. 
Remember that this is the beginning of the period 
when the lawn is subjected to the most trying con¬ 
ditions. The regular use of the hose and mower will 
prove effective. 
Among amateur gardeners, as well as others, the 
peony is rapidly coming into favor. Many improve¬ 
ments in varieties have been brought about in the last 
few years. Some of the most recent productions 
have attained remarkable proportions, exhibits being 
found of flowers measuring seven or eight inches in 
diameter with a depth of five or more inches. With 
the improvement in size of the flowers, comes noted 
variations of colors. Different shades of pink, red, 
crimson, white and even yellow are now grown. 
The Department of Agriculture is giving the peony 
attention at some of its experiment stations, while 
commercial florists are growing them extensively 
for decorative purposes. The peony has sufficient 
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