The Dolores star., 1907-11-01
DA a "A AO
! RANCH AND HOUSEHOLD.
SOMETHING NEW IN FLOWERS
AND PLANTS.
Germany Has Contributed . Rose In
Bright Coral Pink-Rubber Plant
with Fine FoIiage-Proper
Method Of Grating.


There is new variety OF the poly
antha rose. 1t originated in Germany
and Is named the "Aennchen Muller
The color is a bright coral pink.
The novelty about this especial va
riety of polyantha rose is the fact that
its petals curl back longitudinalIy In a
very even and curious way, giving II
its name OF revoluta.
1t grows only foot and a half to
two feet high. and so it is very desir.
able for bedding out in compact mass.
es. also for forcing in pots. Abroad II
is being grown successfully. 1t keeps
in flower from June until late In the
autumn.
A New York dealer is the agent for
new rose that originated in faraway
Queensland. Australia, which is differ
ent from other tea roses. 1t is the
first rose from that land to win a gold
medal.
The fine blossoms are borne singly.
with strong guard leaves, on the ends
of good stalks. The color is crimson
at the base, shading to white. with a
crimson flush beneath the petals.
II rubber plant is to be had for
foliage, why not select the majestic
kind known as Ficus pandurata? This
has very different leaves from the
common kind. No handsomer green,
but in shape somewhat like an oak.
or the liriodendron, or tulip poplar, as
it is generally called.
The leaves are often ten inches wide
by 15 inches long. 1t does not "spran-
gle," to use an expressive country ex-
preston, as the old kind is apt to do.
1t has more tree-like effect. OF
course the rubber plant which has
grown awkwardly or has become too
large can be made over into other
trees. This is the way: You root the
cuttings on the tree, which is an Irish
bull That is to- say, instead of cutting
the branches and then roofing them in
the usual way in sand. another method
has to be adopted for this milky
juiced plant A sponge or some sphag-
mum moss must be tied about the
place that is to be severed later. This
packing is to be kept wet. Little roots
will start out, and when those are suf,
ficiently developed then the branches
may be severed and each will make a
new tree.
Plants will not grow without food
and water. There generally is enough
rain to supply their needs, as the roots
will go down more deeply in dry
weather to secure the needed moisture.
II there is a necessity for water, which
will be shown by the plant beginning
to wilt, 1t ought to be soaked thorough.
ly. Mere sprinkling will have to be
constant to do any good. Food is an
important matter for plants as well
as animals. Only three substances
have any value as plant food. These
are nitrogen, potash and phosphoric
acid. If each plant was to get exactly
OF these what 1t required it would be
an ideal way, but we have to strike a
general average on this as on other
matters. II thoroughly rotted manure
can be had 1t is the best, but the usual
supply is full Of weed seeds, which
give no end of trouble. Still, If the
soil Is stiff it should be used to tighten
1t up, or If sandy to give it substance
The artificial manures are free from
seeds and can be had from any respon
sible dealer. 1t is much easier to use
them, and the results are so favorable
that they are meeting popular ap
prevail. 1t is hardly necessary to say
that all weeds must be kept out. In
dry weather they can be hoed out
and will die, but when the ground is
wet it is better to pull them out. The
earth ought not to be allowed to be
come hard, as air is needed for the
roots, but when plants are set out II
is necessary to firm the soil around
them to prevent their being washed
out in the first hard storm.