St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-03
THE PLANTS in WINTER.
Methods of Protection and Some
of the FavOrite Species.

Methods of Protection and Some
of the FavOrite Species.
Special to the Globe.
FOUNTAIN, MIMI. Aug. 26.-I have
not yet seen any land in this section
that is not now in good condition for
growing any kind of shrubs or flowers,
with the exception of roses, which de-
light in rankeSt manure, but even this
favorite flower can be left without suffer
ing any harm, but prefer to lay heavy
mulebing around the roots in the fall
from the stable, and again in the spring,
removing that which has covered the
roots during the winter, as it may con-
tain some destructive creature that will
be deadly injury. But the effect of
''freSh' manure has cost me dear III the
loss of plants since l came here. The
ground had been manure1 and plOwed
when purchased it, and what plants l
brought with me, and seeds sOwn
GAVE NO WARNING,
so that in October when barrel of
plOwed again and costly roots set out.
In the spring a valuable peOny began to
wither and died. The roots had rotted.
Examining the soil found the raw
manure rotting, giving out its gases,
which proved to be deadly to any plant.
With great precaution l did save an
other that thought would perish, but
it has never recovered from the treat
ment, and never having recommended
such preparation of the soil, decline to
do so now, yet the flower roots in that
bed have done well, other peonies have
not been affected.
MY PLAN IS
to dig down several inches and set the
roots, then cover them with soil about
four inches, on this a shovelful of
manure from the pig pen, then cover
well with the soil, and look for the
peony blossoms the second year after
the planting out. Last spring wanted
old home, and, to give them good bed,
hired boy to run wheelbarrow from
his fathers COW yard to my garden,
with several loads of COW manure and
soil mixed, which was placed on bed
containing narciSsus, tulips and other
bulbs planted last fall, and in which l
intend to put other bulbs in October, or
the very first of November, though i'll
this climate October seems to be
THE BEST MONTH,
as it will give longer time for the
bulbs to root well before the frost has
penetrated the ground. On the bulbs
depend the spring flowers, ana the
bulbs should be set some five inches
deep - narcissus about three inches
apart and in circle, with one or two
bulbs in the center, as they are very
social plant and like company all the
time; tulips may be set the same depth,
but five or six inches apart; being very
prolific, they soon form fine clumps of
bloom, but require resetting every three
or four years, as they are apt to decay
where the bulbs are so crowded. The
bulbs, OrnithOgalum umbeilatum, some
times called ''Star of Bethlehem" is
another dainty little spring flower,
while Ornithogalum pyramidale, native
of Spain, is sometimes called "Prussian
asparagus" Then we have the crOcuS,
another early bloomer, and in all colors;
it is beautiful, and must be set four
inches deep; scilla Liberica, with its
beautiful blue flowers, the earliest
flower in the garden; hyacinthus mus
carl, usually called ''grape hyacinth,"
resembling tiny cluster of grapes.
But
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
of all are the hyacinths, in all their col
Ors and shades of color. They must be
planted like the tulip to have them show
good. There many other bulbs which
are fine and hardy. There are two va
rieties of hardy gladiolus, pink, with
purple tint, and pure white; another
variety, newly introduced, is hardy in
left out died from the cold; few tiny
bulbs. like ''kernel of pepper" lived
out last winter in my garden, too small
- -, hxrn