East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-11-05
PROTECTING FLOWERS FROM
DANGERS OF LACK FROST

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5-whe
Jack Frost has visited the garden an,
checked or blighted the vegetation
the flower lover will consider wha
shall be done for the various plant
and shrubs. Jack Frost usual.
makes himself decidedly evident in tn,
vicinity OF Washington about the firs
OF November. but farther north hi
arrival may be expected earlier. DIFF
ferent plants demand different treat
ment. Such flowers as peonies anC
hollyhocks will come up again the
following year II they are properl,
protected during the winter. while
others like cannas and dahlias, which
are more accustomed TO warmer eli
mates must have their roots or bulbs
dug up and stored in cellar. At this
season many inquiries come TO the
United States Department OF Agri-
culture regarding the treatment need
ed by different plants. and the de-
partment's specialists have given the
following suggestions regarding some
OF them.
Hardy Perennials.-Hardy perenni-
ais that are expected to live through
the winter. should be covered with a
good coating of manure or other lit
ter to a depth of three or four inches.
This in more southern localities will
hold the frost in the ground during
the winter and keep the plant from
alternately freezing and thawing; in
.
will keep the plant from freezing to
so great a depth that its water sup
! ply would be cut off and the plant
would perish. This treatment is good
for peonies, larkspur, hollyhocks. CO.
lumbines, iris, paltycodones, and per-
ennlal poppies.
Cannas Dahlias. etc.-As soon as
the tops OF cannas. dahlias. gladloles,
caladiums, and similar plants are kill
/ ed by the frost, the roots or bulbs
should be dug up and stored in a Gel.
/ lar where the temperature will re-
main about 55 degrees and should
never go below 80 or above 60 de-
grees. No more earth should be
shaken from the clumps of cannas
ana dahlias than is necessary 10 re-
move them from the ground. The
plants may be placed on racks or in
slat boxes so the air may circulate
freely through them. No frost must
reach the roots, nor must they be-
come too warm or dry.
With bulbous plants. such as Gala
/ diums, gladiolas. tube-roses, it is de-
slrable to remove all the soil and dry
them in the open air a day or two
before storing.
The killed tops Of all vegetation may
Well be removed from ones flower
beds after Jack Frost has visited
them. This is merely for the sake Of
appearance, as it has nothing to do
with making the garden more sue
cessful the coming season.
Pansies.-If pansies are expected to
do well in the south they must be set
out in the fall. and need the protec-
tion of manure as do the perennials.
In the south. pansies make the best
showing in the early spring. and lat
er in the summer are burnt up by
the hot sun. North Of the region
from New York City to Springfield
Illinois, pansies do better if set out
in the spring than II planted in the
fall, for in these regions the flowers
will not be affected by the strong
sunlight and they should blossom all
summer.
Geraniums.-The ordinary method
Of carrying geraniums over the win
ter as used by florists is as follows:
A few vigorous young plants are
taken into a conservatory or green
house and cuttings are taken from
these during the winter from which
a new supply OF plants is grown for
spring use. The cuttings for the
spring supply should not be made
later than January. II good stock
plants are desired for the next sum-
mers use.
The ordinary householder who de-
sires TO keep his or her plants
through the winter is not usually the
possessor of a conservatory where he
can follow the method outline above.
The following suggestions may help
MN 10 Keep part OF MS BeranlumS,
at least, throughout. the winter sea-
son. Before the frost has killed the
plants. dig up the geraniums and
place them in a cool. damp cellar.
This cellar should be cooler than that
in which bulbs are kept. ranging in
temperature from 40 TO so degrees:
in other words. such a cellar as is
suitable for storing potatoes.
The plants may be placed in deep
boxes. standing up and packed close
together with little dry soil about
the roots. Geraniums are also seme- !
times hung up by the roots on the !
wall or from the joists. In spring. |
the tops of these plants should be cut
off within two or three inches OF the 1
ground and the roots again planted |
A loss Of half the plants is to be an
ticipated in following this procedure 1
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