The Washington times., 1905-09-16

All garden flowers and hardy plants I,
should be potted or transplanted and !
prepared for the coming cold season be-
fore the first autumnal frost blights
the leaves and makes 1t difficult TO re-
vive them Knowing this. those VINO /
want their geraniums to bloom next |
winter or care to propagate phlox, sweet
william. etc, must soon be busy in their \
gardens preparing TO have plants and !
flowers In the house during the winter. |
I'm transplanting flowers the greatest !
care should be taken OF the roots. They |
should never be cut, bruised or injured
In any way if one hopes TO have sue
cess in growing them says an expert
on Horticulture. "As much OF the soil
should be left around the roots as
clings to them in moving, and every
effort should be made TO keep IL there
First. / would thin out the branches
of a thick geranium, etc, taking some
from the top. others from the sides and
bottom, So as not to spoil the symmetry.
This is easiest done with sharp knife
Cut them off square, bout an inch from
the stock. and guard against bruisinS
or Sitting IT and injuring the plant.
Select Warm Day.
Before attempting TO dig out the
roots of any garden plant, water the
ground thoroughly around them or else
do the work directly after a rain, unless
the air is too cool. ] would select
warm day. when there is plenty of mois-
ture in the atmosphere. and do the work
at an hour when the sun is not shin
sol is thoroughly saturated with water
so the roots will not be strained or torn
il getting them loose, take "A spade and
dig a square sufficiently far from the
plant to make sure it would not be in
jured and go down in the ground at
least twelve inches. When the square
roots and slowly work them out OF the
ground. Then shake the loose dirt from
the roots. being careful TO leave them
well surrounded with earth. so II VIII
not be so long before they begin TO
grow in the new soil. / think the best
plan is to put each plant into a pot
feft exposed for an hour or two while
the other flowers are taken from the
BED 70 Tho flower nots prefer the
red earthenware with holes in the mid
<ea to let out the water to the ornate
k1azed porcelain tubs or those made
from wood.
"In fixing a pot medium sized one
should be selected unless the roots are
unusually small or iAIge ON Inc bot
tom. over the hole made fC- draining OF
the water put n piece .: broken Ip
or pot II II is in the shape OF an arcn
with the ends down. leaving the rounded
portion up so the dirt cannot pack
about the opening and keep the water
from running off. so souring the ground
and eventually rotting the roots. Over
these broken pieces put at least three
inches OF rich garden soil. mixed with
sand. so that the roots will not touch
the crockery.
Carefully put the plant into the pot.
filing in around IL with dirt that is one
eighth sand. Fill 10 the top Of the pot
and then pound the earth down with a
sticiT to make the plant secure and give
the loose dirt body. When II is packed
so there Is half an inch OF space AT the
top of the pot for water. stop pounding.
and water thoroughly. setting the plant
under a tree in the shade or else IN a
glass case, where IL would be protected
from any, cold drafts for three or
four days.
Protect From Chill.
Whenever the earth looks dry water
IT, and II the nights are cold either cover
the plant with papers or cloths or put
them under shelter. for after the trans
planting they are more easily chilled
would always put water on them in the
morning so they can dry out before
night in this way preventing their be-
ing nipped by cold winds. After three
or four days. II properly watered and
kept in the shade, the leaves should lose
the wilted appearance that always fol
lows this change. The yellow leaves
should be plucked and the coleus and
geraniums will thrive and put on new
foliage for the winter