The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1881-11-17
FOR the farmer.
HINTS FOR wINTERING PLANTS.


IIvaeinths that have Powered once in the
horse are not of much value for house culture.
For killing earth-worIns in pots, watering is
recommended of ten drops Of earbolic acid added
10 a piut Of water.
spir.pas. taken up IN autumn in large pots,
and placed in a cold pit covered with glass, viii
bloom profusely early in March.
Many times florists, instead of removing
,,lant to n larger pot simply wash the soil from
In, roots aud return i; 70 the same pot, but with
new soil
Plants for winter Towering should be kept in
nots all summer They should be brought in the
housa and placed IN their position before the
winter fires are made.
HYBRID perpetual roses are best protected by
carefully bending over the principal Dranches
and pegging the ends 10 the earth. Then the
whole NAV lie covered with slough hay or other
material handy. Indeed some people cover the
whole with mound of earth, to be removed IN
the spring. II will certainly pay for these or
other hard wooded plants that are somewhat
tender.
Pansies require but little attention. All that
is required is TO keep the soil from freezing and
ihawing and consequent Ecaving, and from the
influence Of our dry winter winds. A covering
of slough hay is sufficient. Even hardy plants,
as Sweet Williams h0llybOcks, ETC., pay well
for this covering giving much finer bloom the
succeeding summer. The same will apply to beds
of bulbs as tulips, hyacnfhs and others inten-
ded for spring blooia.
All bulbs and plants that lie down to the
ground in autumn may be protected by covering
the surface of the earth with leaves, or manure,
or straw, but plants that retain their leaves dur
ing the winter will not hear this kind Of protec-
ton A few evergreen hOughs thrown over the
beds, little straw between the plants, or some
light open covering of this kind is all they will
bear without injury. We have seen more plants
sInothered and rotted by heavy covering than
saved.
English ivy will succeed better in our dry,
warm rooms than almost any other plant, and
requires very little care. IL two year old plants
are secured, they will begin TO run after that
time. 1t is not necessary to give the plant
large pot, or TO change this often. Good rich
loan aud plenty Of water all that is required.
Move the pot as little possible. Once a week
wipe off all the leaves carefully with large wet
sponge, fastened to n long stick. As the ivy
does not require sunlight it can be grown any
where, and makes a charming framework for
door, windows and pictures. Sometimes it is
planted in large tnhs and trained UP stairway,
forming 4 mass of green foliage from the hall be-
low to the floor above.
Early in autumn is the best possible time for
re-arranginS beds Of herbaeeOns plants such as
hollyhocks, delphiniums, leonics, etc. Roots
can be divided without injury, and generally
with great health to the plants. Lilies and all
hardy bulbs can also be removed and replanted
the leaves begin to ripen. Plants that
somewhat tender IN the North, such as tritomas,
pampas grass etc, and any other tender plants
that it would he desirable 10 save over the win
ter, may he secured in pits cool cellars. sim
pie pit is made by removing the earth for say
two feet, over which is placed hot-bed frame
and sash. Even boards mats will answer for
n covering. Give air during fine weather.
RECIPES FOR KILLING PLANT ISsEcTs.-The
with tobacco. Some soft wooded plants, such as
salvias, heliotropes, etc, will not bear fumiga-
ton without njuring their leaves, and for these
a weak solution is quite eifectual. Steep some
tobacco in water, then sprinkle the plant with
the solution, afterwards syringe with clear wa
ter. A little turpentinc diluted with water (one
part to sixteen) will destroy the mealy bug The
red spider is a very small insect, revealing its
presence by the brown appearance Of the leaves.
Sprinkle your plants often and you viii not be
troubled with red spider, but wherever the air is
dry and close there is his delight Alcohol ap-
piled with n camel's hair brush will kill any in
sect it touches. Plants treated with these RENE
dies must be syringed Immediately thereafter
with clear water. To kill white worms in flow
er pots take common lime dissolve it, and pour
the liquid on the soil. 1t does not injurc the
plants ut all.
In good cellar, says a writer in the Rural
Neu Yorker, we can keep orr century plants, ole
andcrs and cactuscs from November till May;
and there, too, our cannas, caladinms (the green
leaved section), dahlias, Grape myrtles and fuch-
sias. Should frost be likely to penetrate, we
can cover up with dry hay or straw, just we
would in the case Of potatoes or apples. Straw
spread over the leaves of the century plants
won't hurt them bit. A cold pit as winter
quarters is better than a cellar for some plants;
but a cramped up little place is worse than use
less. The length, breadth and depth of the pit
should be guided by the kinds, size and number
of the plants to he wIntered in it, but from three
to six feet deep four TO six wide (length of sash)
and in length TO any number of sashes, are good
dimensions. After storing, We keep the pit uu-
covered day and night in mild weather, and
even on fine, frosty days, we tilt up little ut
noau. During intense frosty weather, we keep
the pit rather close, merely sliding down the
shutters few inches at noon; and in case of
heavy SHOWS or storms, we leave all covered up
for a few days But make it point to omit
no feasible opportunity for ventilating. or, at
least, light giving; and of many hundred plants
thus cared for last winter, not one persisted.