House and Garden 
almost like putty. What can I mix in to make it 
looser and more friable ? The bed is a foot or more 
higher than the surrounding ground so it ought to 
drain well. I fear I am going to lose some of my 
roses because of the condition of the soil. 
Winchester, Virginia. C. W. B. 
I'he condition of your rose bed, as described, in¬ 
dicates that it may have been worked while the ground 
was too wet. However, what may be the best thing 
to do now is to cover it with a layer of well sifted 
coal ashes, the covering to be about two inches thick. 
Let this lay for a day or two and then work it well 
into the soil. Keep on stirring the soil until it is well 
pulverized and then work in a liberal coating of well- 
rotted manure. With this treatment the bed should 
he in reasonably good condition in a very short time 
and the plants should take on renewed growth. 
THE TREATMENT OF RUBBER PLANTS 
Is the rubber plant adapted to house growth ? 
Please tell me how to treat the plant while indoors, 
if it is suitable for that purpose. 
Calverton, Va. Mrs. H. P. W. 
The rubber plant is better adapted to room growth 
than almost any other plant. To keep it growing 
healthily see that the soil never gets dry. If it does 
the roots will receive injury causing the plant to drop 
its foliage, and cease growing; a check of develop¬ 
ment always results. 
Wash the leaves at least once a week. Being of 
thick form, they can he handled without injury. 
When the pot becomes filled with roots, as it will, 
shift the plant to a larger pot. Use a soil composed 
of loam, with a little sand mixed in. See that the pot 
is well drained. 
Do not keep the plant in a strong sunlight, but let 
it have plenty of light. 
If the lower leaves turn yellow and drop, there is 
no occasion for alarm. It is the habit of the plant to 
ripen and shed its older leaves from time to time. 
APPROPRIATE VINE FOR THE FRONT OF A HOUSE 
Will you please suggest some vine with which I 
can effectively cover the front of a servant house that 
is conspicuous from my front garden ? I would like 
something attractive as well as effective. 
Dayton, Ohio. H. W. P. 
For a combination of effectiveness and beauty 
no vine surpasses the climbing rose. For the purpose 
of clearly demonstrating the virtue of the rose for 
such purposes 1 have had the photographer make a 
photograph of what might be termed a city shack. 
At this time the surroundings show the wonderful 
growth and bloom of the rose and its possibilities 
with proper care. 
This photograph shows the possibilities of the climbing 
rose for covering unsightly objects, rendering the 
surroundings a bower of beauty 
THE CULTIVATION OF MUSHROOM SPAWN 
Will you kindly inform me as to the process of 
cultivation of mushroom spawn ? Mrs. P. W. P. B. 
North Koh ala, Hawaii, T. H. 
Fhe system of cultivation of the mushroom is 
more comprehensive than can he embraced in a 
(personal) reply to your inquiry. The United States 
Department of Agriculture has published a bulletin 
(Farmers’ Bulletin No. 204) that goes into the sub¬ 
ject matter of your request at length and very speci¬ 
fically. The bulletin is no doubt better adapted to 
your needs than any suggestions from me. 
I have requested the Department of Agriculture 
to mail direct to you the publication referrred to. 
Should you not receive it within reasonable time make 
a request direct to the Secretary of Agriculture, 
Washington, D. C. The bulletin is published for 
free distribution. 
PLANT SURROUNDINGS FOR A SUN-DIAL 
I have made a sun-dial and want a suggestion 
c_ O 
as to what to plant around it. 
Providence, R. I. Miss Katie V. P. 
A very effective surrounding can be had from 
roses. The Debutante, Hiawatha, Sweetheart and 
Trier are good for training about the sun-dial. 
The Debutante has double flowers, uniform in 
size, and is of a beautiful soft pink color. Sweetheart 
is of bright blush pink in the open and fades to 
soft white when full blown. The Hiawatha is 
(1 Continued on page 5, Advertising Section.) 
36 
