Suggestions for the Month 
gone to complete ruin, or that a table, never very 
satisfactory, can be replaced. Now it is no easy task 
to buy a chair for of all those made to-day hut a small 
percentage wdl be found agreeable to live with much 
less to sit upon. Furniture good both in make and 
design is, alas! the exception rather than the rule and 
if the householder is wise he will buy slowly. Far 
better is it to get one good piece now and then than a 
van load of the conventional kind all at once. Above 
all things avoid the appearance of the shop— the all- 
new-at-once look which gives no evidence of personal 
taste or individuality. 
It is at this time also that the house plants are taken 
in—that the pantry is overhauled—the cold storage 
room put in order, and cooking utensils renewed-- 
that in fact every thing indoors seems to need atten¬ 
tion. 
THE GARDEN 
I T is unwise to risk tender plants out-of-doors 
any longer in latitude north of Richmond, 
Virginia. In taking the plants in be sure to 
take time to wash thoroughly the pots, tie up strag¬ 
gling shoots, remove all dead leaves, and stir the sur¬ 
face of the soil. Plants thrive much better in clean 
pots than in those which have accumulated mildew 
and slime. A moderately grown plant looks more 
attractive in a clean pot than well-grown specimens 
in uncared for pots. Pot washing takes more or less 
time but many opportunities will be presented when 
it can be done; on rainy days for instance when some 
of the help about the place can be utilized. 
The general run of Dutch bulbs now coming in 
embraces the tulip, the hyacinth and narcissus; 
though other varieties are grown to some extent. 
Ins Hispantca is a bulb of great popularity in 
Europe for forcing purposes, and millions of tbem 
are grown for the great flower market of Covent 
Garden, Eondon. American florists have not taken 
kindly to them but some private gardens grow 
them quite largely. It is a flower which can be 
cut with excellent stem, is unrivaled for the din¬ 
ner table or other decoration, and lasts well when 
cut. 
The iris requires cool treatment throughout and 
can be brought to bloom in the months of April and 
May. It does best grown in pans or flats of about 
three inches in depth. It is an excellent outdoor 
plant, and will stand fifteen degrees below zero with¬ 
out protection. 
A light but rich compost is best for practically all 
bulbs. I here is nothing better than a compost con¬ 
sisting of two-thirds loam and one-third pulverized 
cattle manure, with the addition of leaf mold and 
sand. 
For ordinary decorative purposes one bulb to a 
five-incb pot, or three to a six-inch pot is about right 
for hyacinths. I'he tops of hyacinths should he just 
covered. Tulips and narcissi are better covered 
about an inch. Tulips do better in pans than in pots 
while the narcissus succeeds best in pots. Fhe 
larger bulb varieties require pots of about eight inches 
in diameter. After potting all bulbs should be 
thoroughly watered, placed in a shed, cellar, frame, 
or in the open ground, and covered with fine coal 
ashes. 
While the geranium has been much berated, it is 
undeniably the best known and most commonly 
grown of all the cultivated garden plants. Whether 
criticism has been justified is a matter of individual 
opinion. 
d'he geranium is now in prime condition for propa¬ 
gation. Cuttings stuck now, wintered in cool quar¬ 
ters, the buds kept picked off to the middle of April, 
will give a continuous succession of flowers through¬ 
out the whole of the next summer. It is a detriment 
rather than a benefit to pot too early, for during hot 
weather many of the cuttings rot off. A flat twenty- 
four by twelve inches, with a depth of three inches, 
will readily hold a hundred cuttings. An inch of 
cinders put in the bottom of the flat, a layer of moss 
and the balance clean sharp sand, well pressed down 
and watered, is all that is needed in the way of com¬ 
post. When the cuttings are in place give them a 
good wetting. After the cuttings are rooted only 
give them sufficient water to prevent shriveling until 
potting time. It is not necessary to shade them. 
Leave single violets outdoors until the middle of 
October. Experiments with both late and early 
planting show that to be the proper time to house 
them. 
Hydrangeas grown in boxes or tubs should be 
kept well exposed so that tbe wood in all the branches 
will mature. If in a climate where the temperature 
is likely to fall below twenty-five degrees, they can be 
placed in a cool, dry shed or cellar where they will 
do well. 
A top dressing of wood ashes or pulverized cow 
or sheep manure will be of assistance to the surface 
roots of carnations. Those which were housed as 
early as August have made considerable growth and 
must not now be neglected. 
Nerine bulbs potted now will bloom next October. 
Let tbe potting soil be composed of turfy loam, sand 
and leaf mold. As many as six bulbs can be put in 
a six-inch pot. While some of the bulbs may flower 
soon after potting, but little can be expected of them 
the first season. They can be kept in any cold, airy 
house until May, then transferred to a cold frame, 
{Continued on page 12, Advertising Section.) 
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