The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-10-04
FOR THE AMATEUR FLORIST.
Grently to the Enjoyment
of the work.

Every grower of flowers in the win
dow garden or greenhouse ought to
have brass syringe, such as is made
expressly for florists use, or a small
portable spray pump. The latter tool
is more satisfactory than the syringe,
as it can be worked TO much better adj
vantage, and much more easily, and can
be used for greater variety of pur-
poses. One can be bought for about
three dollars that will answer all pur-
poses in a good-sized greenhouse. It
will also be found extremely useful in
washing windows, buggies, and put
ting out incipient fires. But if one of
these pumps cannot be afforded, be sure
to get a syringe The era of whisk
brooms as sprayers for plants in the
window garden is past.
Another much-needed article in every
greenhouse and garden is a pair of
pruning shears. One cannot do a good
job in pruning or trimming shrubs and
plants with common knife. These
shears make it an easy matter to re-
move good-sized limbs, and when one
becomes used to their management he
or she would not be without them for
good deal more than they cost.
A small, slender trowel is needed in
every garden. 1t will be found con-
vsnient to root up weeds growing close
to plants whose roots you do not care
TO disturb, and 1t is handy in trans
planting seedlings, or in digging about
pot plants to loosen the soil in which
they are growing.
a wedding hook is another most ex-
cellent garden tool. 1t enables one to
do great deal more work, in a given
time, than can be done by hand, and it
saves a vast deal of disagreeable labor.
And the work done with it is much bet
ter done than when the fingers are en-
ployed, as the soil is loosened by it's
teeth and made light and open. 1t will
also be found useful in the greenhouse
among pot plants.
A watering pot with long spout is
necessity in every home where plants
are grown. With such a pot the water
can be put just where it is needed with
out flooding everything besides the
plant aimed at. Watering pots with
spray MOBILES are not what is needed
among plants. Such pots are useful in
sprinkling floors and walks, but if one
has portable spray pump, or even a
brass syringe, they can well be dis
pensed with.
A bellows with an attachment for
holding powder is a useful thing very
often, as with it pyrethrum, hellebore
or any other substance used as an in
secticide can be blown all over a plant
very easily and effectively without
strangling the operator with the fumes
of the article used.
Various kinds of insecticides should
be kept on hand. The best time to use
them is when insects are first discov-
cred. By prompt and energetic work
one may get rid of most insects before
they have taken possession of the plant,
but allow them to become fully estab-
lished on 1t and it will take a good deal
of hard work to dislodge them. If one
has these insecticides at hand the nec-
essary prompt and effective measures
will be likely to be taken at the proper
time.
Some reliable fertilizer ought always
to be kept on hand also. If this is not
done, plants are often allowed to suffer
for food at the very time when it is most
needed .-Ledper Monthly