The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-13

make. a. summer, neither does one bright,
warm day assure us that weather which
can be trusted has come to stay. There
fore, to be on the safe side allow your
roses to remain covered until the buds on
other shrubs begin to grow. Even then
do not remove the covering all at one
time. hut be several days about it, that the
plants may gradually adjust themselves to
the new condition of things. .,..sz o..
The early frosts of fall will generally be
severe enough to put an end to the flower
ing of dahlias and scorch the foliage off
the Gamma and the caladiunn, but it is not
advisable to lift the roots of these plants
until some weeks later. Let them ripen
oft In the ground. Along in the latter part
of October dig them. Choose warm, sun
ny day for this work. Lift each cump of
roots carefully, and lay it on boards in
the sun. after shaking off much Of the
soil as will readily part from it. Do not
remove the old stalks at this time. At
night, cover the roots we'll with blankets
or Old carpet. Next day, If the weather is
favorable, expose them to the sun, and
do this for several days in succession
being careful to cover them each night.
After Il little the earth will all crumble
away from them. Then-and not till then
cut off the stalks three four inches
frorl the roots. Leave them exposed to
the ripCning effect Of late fall sunshine as
lonE as 1t seems safe to do so. Then
store dahliaS, cannas and caladiums in
the, cellar, putting them on shelves some
distance from the floor and spreading
them out we'll. Never heap them together
and never put them on near the floor
when they will gather dampness. Glad
iolrs roots can be put in paper bags and
hung IN frost-proof rooms. Some prefer to
keep dsklias and other tuberous roots
there. thinking it a safer place for them
cellar PM 7 refa bo
unless It fs damp one. In rooms the
roots arc likely to dry out too much. Never
make the mistake of lifting these roots
ana taking them Immediately to the cell
lar or ether place of storage. If this is done
| they are almost sure to decay They
should be given ample time to dry out we'll
before being. put away for the winter.
Bear this in mind, for it Is Of the utmost
inn. rtance.
! Aquatic plants grown In natural ponds
Will need no protection, but those grown
In cement basins or wooden tanks, as most
are at present in amateur gardening, will
have to be protected from severe freezing.
A good plan Is to set boards up about the
tank or basin containing the plants in such
manner as to leave space Of about a
foot between the surface Of the water and
the covering. Lay boards across these,
and then cover with at lease a foot Of
coarse litter, heaping it up we'll about the
| 3
the plants will no doubt freeze to some ex-
tent, but not sufficiently to injure them.
Inc roots OF tender varieties should be
packed in moist soil and stored in the
cellar, where the temperature can be kept
at about SO degrees.
| The amateur gardener often finds it diff
ficult to decide as to the time when winter
protection should be given his plants
sometimes we have pleasant wea Their until
late in fall, and we put off this work from
day to day, thinking they would be in
jured by covering them while warm
weather continued. All at once cold
weather comes and finds our plants wholly
unprepared for it. We at once set about
doing the work that ought to have been
done before, but whatever is done under
unpleasant conditions is likely to be poor
ly done, and the result of our neglect is
quite apparent when spring comes. We
are entirely safe in counting on cold
Wea ther by the first Of November at the
north. anG I would advise getting plants
ready for winter at that time. 1t is so
late in the season that no harm will be
done by II If the weather continues mild
Choose q pleasant day for this work. if
possible and do it leisure1y that it may
be well done. 1t doesn't pay to hurry it;
for hurry means half-doing what you I'M
dertake.
We have many shrubs which are consid
cred iron clad in their ability to resist the
influences of a severe winter, but I find
thai it is well worth while to give some
protection to even these. A few forkfuls
Of litter about their roots will be of great
beneht to them because the covering,
though slight, enables them to save some
thing In vitality, and saving in the vital
SfOrce of all plants Is what should be aimed
at if we would have them do their best.
After the work outlined above is done
there will still be considerable to do in
no ,,,1o Ivy fnr1 7irotn
ness should characterize it at all times,
and in order to have it as attractive as
possible during the winter everything of
an unsightly nature should be cleared
laway. Go over the border and cut off old
flower stalks close to the roots they sprang
FROM Never leave this refuse to be blown
about by the winter winds, but make a
heap of it and burn 1t. Gather up the
stakes and trellises used supports for
plants in summer and store them away
> in some sheltered place. If this is done
each fall, and a coating of paint is given
them each spring, they will do good serv-
ice for several years, but if left exposed to
the weather the year around they will sell
. dom outlast a second season. The same
is true Of all garden appliances. The wise
gal dener will never leave his rake or hoe
! hanging, ON the fence or a tree limb over
winter, and the spade and trowel in the
bed where he used them last. There is a
! great deal of satisfaction in having good
, tools to work with, and rusty tools are
never good ones. With proper attention
they can be kept in fine condition until
, worn out. Go over them with sandpaper
when you store them away, and scour
, them until they shine. Then give each
one wash of oil to protect it against
, dampness. When the last of these little
jobs is done, and not till then, the work OF
! the season can be considered as ended.