Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-28
'ured Itching and
Pr0trudlng PlIos.
PROTECT THE PLANTS.
Care That should He Given 10 Shield
Flowers From Cold.

From Home and Flowers.
1t pays to give some sort of protection to
even the hardest plants-not because We
would keep the cold out but to prevent the
sun from penetrating the frozen soil and
undoiug the work done by the frost, after
which. in the cold climate of the north the
frost will Immediately do IT over again. 1t
is the sudden alienation OF cold and heat
which plays the mischief with our plants.
The tissues and cells OF plants are ruptured
and roots are torn from their place by the
expansion OF the soil under the action OF
| frost. 1t is good policy to cover the roots
J OF all plants without regard to tenderness
or hardness. This should be done when
We have reason to think cold weather is
setting in to stay. Do not cover any plant
as long the weather is warm. Coarse
litter from the barnyard is good as pro-
lection, though leaves are best.
If you have some tender roses which you
woui,. like to carry through the winter and
but few leaves. use them on the rose plants.
Make a box OF boards at least eight inches
deep, and set it about the plants. Fill with
leaves. Crowd them down well. Then make
a covering of boards to fit over the box and
shed rain. Before putting in the leaves
the plants should be laid down on the
| ground, with a sod to hold them in place.
| If you have large rose bushes to protect.
| heap considerable earth about the base OF
the plant and bend the stiff canes over IL,
doing it gradually and carefully to avoid
cracking or breaking them III a sudden.
sharp bend is made these stalks are in
jured. that IL will be necessary to cut
| them away in the spring.
! Pansies require slight covering. Scatter
an inch or two of leaves over them and lay
evergreen branches on them to prevent t..eir
being blown away. thick covering
smothers a pansy. Hollyhocks must be
shielded from the rain of fall and the water
of melting SHOWS in spring. Their thick,
| hairy leaves are quite sure to decay il kept
wet, and decay of the foliage often extends
to the crown OF the plant, and this means
ruin. Invert a small box over the plant,
and bank up around 1t well with soil TO
| throw all water away from the crown, and
| then put on protection. Be careful to not
| uncover too early in the spring. III you
| can keep the plant dry at its crown, II Will
be sure to come through the winter all
right.
| Cover the beds of bulbs with litter to the
depth of eight or ten inches. When taking
care of roses 1t Is wen TO go over me
| bushes and remove all necessary branches
| and all weak wood. Cut away the branches
of Clematis flammula and Paniculata
grandifora to within a foot or two of
| the root. Sometimes greater length OF
| sta.6 can be wintered, but IL is hardly
| worth while to attempt il, as the strong
growth of next season is likely to come
from near the base of the plant.
| Be careful about overwhelming plants in
the house at this season. Few of them viii
be making much growth, and those not
growing actively Will require but little
| water at their roots. Do not lose sight Of
the good old rule of watering only when
| the surface of the soil looks dry. Then APP
ply enough to saturate the soil.
| Do not make the serious mistake OF APP
plying fertilizers TO dormant plants. They
need none until they begin to make growth.
To use them when plant is at a stand
| still is an injury to any plant. Admit fresh
air on-an pleasant days. Shower carefully
| when the weather is bright. Do not do so
| on damp and cloudy days. Be sparing OF
| artificial heat. Few plants will need any
| during this month.
| BE on the lookout for insects AS soon
| as you find one look for more and you Will
be pretty sure to discover them hiding away
| somewhere. Apply some reliable insecticide
| at once. Aim to prevent the increase Of
| them by prompt work along this line. You
| can do it IL you are thorough, but halfway
| work is the same as none.