The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-03-09

Don't forget to have the sweet peas
ordered ready to put into the ground as
soon as the frost is out of it. Plant
them about six inches deep and they will
not be injured even if we do AVE some
frosty nights after they are in the
ground. They are hardy affairs, and
this early planting will give early and
abundant blooming.
Keep the roses covered throughout this
month. The alternate thawing and freae-
ing is very severe on all kinds.
See that D.enty of seed boxes are
starts& in the house, with the ~half-hardy
ANIMALS that are to form the sturdy
plants for quick blooming when the
weather is warm enough to set them out
side.
Screen the hotbeds from the March
winds and shelter the mats at night ana
during cold storms.
Just before the sap begins to flow is
the best time to attend to the pruning
of the rose bushes, etc.
With the advancing season all plants,
even such as appear to be entirely DOR
mant. begin to swell their buds. conse-
quently all pants that require reporting
should be ATTENDED to at once. In all
~well-ordered collections every plant
should be carefully examined and its
wants attended to. In reporting care
should be taken to see that the pots and
tubs are properly drained, and that the
plants are placed in the center of the
pot. The pots should be carefully
washed inside and out before filling II
with fresh soil, and at least IN inch of
drainage material should be placed in all
pots larger than the ive-inch sic. If all
plants are properly cared for now it will
not only save much valuable time later
on, but will materially aid in forming
larger and better specimens.
Now that occasional warm days of
Spring time balminess make us impatient
for garden time" to arrive, we should
give our attention to the plants that
have been stored in the cellar. If the
geraniums have been hung from the raft
ers we may find pitiful attempts to send
out shoots, and they should be encour-
aged by cutting them down, trimming
back. and potting in rather small pots
placed in a cool though sunny window.
The fuchsias may be allowed to remain
in the same pots in which they have
been resting during the winter, but fresh
top soil should be added, and the plants
should be pruned 10 within a few inches
OA Tie Solt- III HIsodAAiSAtuAio -VASo
on the cellar floor are now pushing up
young plants all around the dead stalks,
and these may now be separated and
started into fresh growth in small pots.
Perhaps an amaryllis may be tucked
away in a corner trying to catch your
attention after it's three months rest.
Just put it on the Plant itself. water, and
see how quickly a bud will show. Now
is the time to look over last years seeds.
Doubtless you will lind a great many more
than you can use. Do them up in neat
packages and tuck them in a letter to a
friend, or give them to a neighbor who
did not have an opportunity to save
them from her own boomers last season.
Pay close attention to ventilation now,
as a proper supply of air will materially
aid in maintaining a robust, healthy
growth Of the plants. A night tempera-
ture of from forty to fifty degrees, with
an increase OF fifteen degrees during the
day, is the most suitable for a general
collection of plants. In arranging such
Acollections. however, be Scareful to place
those varieties that require the most
heat in the warmest parts OF the house
Be careful to give all plants sufficient
space in which to properly develop and
secure the necessary ventilation. Civ
the plants. all the fresh air possible now,
but do not allow a direct draught to
blow upon them on cold days.
$50
Raising dahlias from seed will prove a
fascinating occupation for this month,
hut if there are tubers stored in the cell
lar it will be ever more important to
give these an early start in the house;
and the blooming will be much earlier
and more abundant than if they are al
lowed to lie dormant in their boxes of
sand in the cellar until time for planting
outside. The sprouts of dahlias issue from
the stem to which the tubers are attach
ed. and not from the tubers themselves.
and care should be taken to keep the
stem sound and not injure the delicate
connection between the stem and the tub
ers. The soil should be moist when the
tubers are placed in it, and that will be
sufficient to induce growth without adj
ditional moisture. Flower growers often
make the mistake of applying water lib
orally to newly ported tuoers, and the
moisture and heat have the effect of rot
sting the tubsrs before roots are formed,
on the moisture can be utilized in the
growth of the plant. Bulbs and tubers,
lie seeds. should be started in moist
soil. and then should be kept only very
slightly moist until growth starts.
AS soon as the dahiia stems are we'll
supplied with sprouts lift the clump of
tubers and separate, leaving a sprout to
each tuber If possible. In doing this use
a sharp knife, spliting the stem carefully
to apportion the sprouts and tubers. The
tubers will all be found well rooted. and
if there are any without sprouts a
sprout can he grated in. AS previously
stated. care must be taken to avoid in
turing or breaking the connection be-
tween the tuber and the stem in this
work. In case any are injured the tubers
should be detached and planted with the
stem ~protruding. In a little while roots
will form and sprouts or cuttings from
other tubers can be grated in. In this
operation simply cut a wedge-shaped
piece ont of the tuber. fit the cutting in
and wrap firmly with a cloth or soft
string until 1t connects and starts into
growth.
Having been told repeatedly that the
best way to clean a piano case was to
wash it with soap and water, writes Mary
M Ward, in Good Housekeeping L
somehow never could quite make up my
mind to try it after all. for it seemed as
though the soapy water must surely spoil
fha brilliant pclish in spite of all assur-