The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-07-22
ideas for dMo1nen.

VA tt@I clf2SS-@ All 4H@t< q
important a part in the summer flower
garden as in the inevitable summer fancy
work. Most amateur gardeners seem
afraid to use the scissors or knife. After
their bedding plants and annuals begin
TO reward their patient care with abund-
ant bloom they naturally want them to
remain in that fine condition all the sea-
son. Yet. after the first few weeks, their
flower beds will grow ragged and fail 70
be the perpetual delight they fondly I'M
agined. They wonder despairingly why
their flowers Go not bloom as nicely as
those in neignborine gardens. II they
could be persuaded to believe it the fault
Is really their own and the remedy in
their own hands.
Nature left to itself simply seeks to
2erpetuate Its kind. VITA vegetable and
plant life the object is the formation Of
seed. When the seed has ripened the plant
has done It's duty for the season, and
either dies or grows strong for the next
season, but refuses to supply more how-
ers for this years display. So we must
circunvent or assist the old dame IL We
want a constant renewal OF bloom by re-
moving the fading lower before they
can form seed. Then we shall And nature
making an effort to do its duty and there
will be a perpetual supply Of buds and
flowers during the season.
But few plants viii continue to flower
~abundantly while their strength is ex-
pended IN growing and ripening seed, yet
It will not especially injure the constant
blooming ANNALS TO have a little seed
grow and ripen alta time. If it is desir-
able to save seed for next years plant
ing select the finest blossoms or bunch
of blossoms of the variety which you wish
TO seed. and tie a string around It, go that
it will not be overlooked when the flower
petals fall; keep all other fading flowers
picked from the plant, and as soon as this
particular bunch of seed pods ripens re-
move it before the pods open and scat
ter the seed; then allow the flower to
continue to grow anc bloom without ex-
haussing it by forming other seed.
BY taking this care in ripening a few
seeds from a cluster Of especially fine
flowers you VIII find the quality far SUI
perior to the seeds that are allowed to
grow and ripen according TO their own
sweet will. This is especially true Of pam
sizes and those varieties that are disposed
to degenerate III size. BY q little extra
care one can r;pen in this way all the
seed they wish, have 1t Of the best quality
and still keep their plants blooming. We
thus assist nature in the survival of the
ffttest in both flowers and seed. But the
scissors must be in almost constant use
in caring for these various ANNALS, both
before and after the specimen flowers
have ripaned their seed, If we would keep
them forming fresh blooms until frost
comes to destroy them.
Many of the perennial plants have but
enc abundant blooming, ard even if they
are net allowed to form seed this one
period OF bloom seems to KLAUS them
for the season. But even in these nstance
the scissors Will prove beneficial and If
the flowers are cut and enjoyed and all
seed pods nipped off before they ripen
the plants. will start into vigorous growth
and form large clumps that Will produce
extra quantity and quality of bloom the
following season because Of this timely
pruning.
clunps that have been established for
several years and have bceeme rather
crowded may be divided and reset al this
season better than IN the fall, and severe
pruning at the time Of replanting is es-
peciaily necessary.
The numerous hardy roses known as
the hybrid perpetuals are supposed to
have only one season Of bloorn-in the
eariy surnmer-and after hat they are
usually allowed to care for themselves
until the following seasons blooming
period. But amateur fower growers are
beginning to realize that they may be
made to produce a good quantity of fall
Bowers if the bushes a intelligent
summer pruning.
Women don't like to prune, they are
too tender-hearted; 1t seems such a
shame to cut off the thrifty branches so
ruthlessly. But they must get over all
that nonsense before they can be sue
cessful, with roses especially; and there
is a new and money-making career be-
fore the girl that learns how to skill
fully WELD the pruning knife and also
adds TO this a knowledge of grating.
If this did not give her enough to do
{and going from house TO house she
would be hailed with delight, for every
one who has a fine garden wants a care
fui hand to use the pruning kn.fe) she
might add insectides to her grip and be
a friend in need as well as a friend in
deed by coming when the roses are in
Tested with insects. Why Isn't there a
summer school of horticulture where
women could learn how to use the scis-
sors and pruning knife i~ntelligently an
III add another health-giving as well
as profitable business to their list
The hardy shrubbery should be pruned
during the ummer instead of in the
late fall or spring. If pruned In the
early spring many of the blooming
branches VIII be destroyed, n late fall
pruning often INJURIES the bushes that
find IT difficult to Withstand the cold of
our Northern winters.
During the summer numerous strag-
Cling branches are constantly forming
on the different varieties OF ornamental
shrubbery that have 1nished their
blooming period. and these should all be
clipped back. until q compact bush is
forIged with numerous close, synlnet-
rieai branches.
Al recent happening in 3 Boston store
should be a warning alike to absent
minded women and 10 over-zealous shop
detectives. A woman very much fright
ened and tresauious walked up to the su-