S U N N Y S I D E GARDENS, NATICK. MASS. 
alternate thawing and freezing, and it is advisable 
to mound up these plants at the time of planting 
as is done by hilling up potatoes, or, at least, be¬ 
fore the gi'ound freezes. Mulching or covering 
with boxes is also a good way to give them protec¬ 
tion against heaving, but if boxes are used, put a 
stone or brick under one side to give them ventila¬ 
tion. 
BORERS AND ROOT ROT 
Borers and root rot seem to be the important 
things that one has to contend with. I find that 
eternal vigilance will keep them both in check. 
Watch the foliage, beginning the first of July, or 
earlier in some sections, and where you see a leaf 
that looks slimy or the edges notched, look out for 
borers, and get an old glove and squeeze the leaf 
up and down between thumb and finger. 
To check root rot, cut out rotted part and rub 
wound with Calogreen. 
If you raise seeds of Iris, you will know that 
the flowers have to be bagged soon after pollinat¬ 
ing, to prevent the verbena fly from stinging their 
eggs into the new-forming seed pod, where they 
hatch out little larvae (Maggots), that eat up all 
of the young seeds. The scars on the pods where 
they have been stung are plainly discernible, when 
fully developed, and if scraped with a sharp pen 
knife and a little Calogreen rubbed into the wound, 
that will be the finish of Mr. Maggot. It is said 
that Calogreen is also effective for preventing rot, 
but for treating seed pods I believe ordinary cal¬ 
omel would be just as effective. This treatment 
does away with bagging. 
