The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-11-10
CARE Oh GARDEN IN WINTER
DESCRIBED BY SPECIALISTS
Experts of Department Of Agriculture
Tell of Best Means II Protecting
Plants and Bulbs During Cold
Months.

Months.
When Jack Frost has visited the
garden and checked or hlighted the
vegetation. the flower lover Will con-
slider shall he done for the vari-
Gus plants and shrubs. Jack Frost
usually makes himself decidedly eyt
dent IN the vicinity Of WASHINGTON
about the first Of November. hut far
Their north his arrival may be ex-
pected earlier. Different plants de-
in1nd different treatment. Such flow
ers as peonies and hollyhocks Viii
come up again the following year II
they are properly protected during tho
winter. while others, like cannas and
dahllas. which are more accustomed
10 warmer chimes. must have their
roots or bulbs dug up and stored in a
cellar. AT this season many inquiries
come to the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture regarding the
treatment needed by different plants.
and the departments specialists have
given the following suggestions re
garding some of them:
Hardy Pcrcnnials.-Hardy Peren-
mails that are expected to live through
the winter should be covered with n
good coating of manure or other lit
ter to a depth Of three or four inches.
This in more Southern localities VIII
hold the frost in the ground during
the winter and keep the plant from
alternately freezing and thawing; in
more Northern regionS the manure
will keep the plant from freezing to
so great a depth that its water supply
would be cut off and the plant Would
perish. This treatment is good for
peonies, l~arkspur, ~hollyhocks, column
bines, iris, pa~ltycodones and perennial
peoples.
C%annas. Dahlias. Etc.-As soon as
the tops of cannas, dahlias. gladiol-
Y1Cnc 20 u ~ :, < o,VI c,,,1 % 4 =. . -.
killed by the frost the roots Of bulbs
should be dug and stored in a cellar
where the temperature Will remain
about So degrees, and should never
go below so degrees or above Go de
Srees. No more earth should be
shaken from the clumps of cannas
and dahliaS than is necessary To re-
move them from the ground. The
plants may be placed on racks or in
; salt boxes. SO the air may circulate
; freely through them No frost must
reach the roots nor must they become
l too warm or dry.
2 With Dubious plans, such as Gala
: diums. ~gladioluses and tuberoses, it is
desirable to remove all the soil and
= dry them in the open air a day or two
S before storing.
The killed tops Of all vegetation may
we'll be removed from ones flower
a beds after Jack Frost has visited
y llltIIl. III - L Ioi tilt SNiAN
e of appearance, as it las nothing to dc
k with making the garden more success
e full the coming season.
Pansics.-If pansies are expected tC
g do we'll in the South they must be
l. set out in the fall, and need the pro
e lection of II as do the peron-
d ials. In the South pansies make the
y best showing in the early spring, anf
later in the summer are burned VI
d by the hot sun. North Of the region
s. from New York City TO Springfield
If Ill, pansies do better if set out in tn
% spring than if planted in the fall. foI
in these regions the flowers Will no
n, be affected by the strong sunlight an'
l. they should blossom all summer.
y GcraniOus.-The ordinary metod O
g carrying geraniums over the winter a
Sc used by florists is as follows:
is A few vigorous young plants ar
taken into a conservatory or green
" house and cuttings are taken fror
It, these during the winter, from whlc
O. a new supply of plants is grown 70
Of spring use. The cuttings for tn
e. spring supply should not be mad
a. later than January 1 if good stock
~ plants are desired For the next sum
mer'S use.
lie The ordinary householder who dc
is sires to keep his or her plants throug
ne the winter is not usually the posse.
sor of a conservatory where he ca
he follow the method outlined above. TT
rs following suggestions may help hi
r to keep a part of his geraniums. {
q least, throughout the winter season
is Before the frost has killed the plant
nd dig up the geraniums and place thel
in a cool, damp cellar. This celia
should be cooler than that in whic
bulbs are kept, ranging in temper
at ture from 40 to SO degrees: in othf
ng words, such a cellar as 1t suitable Il
CHI storing potatoes.
The plants may be placed in dee
80 boxes, standing up and packed clio!
rs, together with a little dry soil aho'
he the roots Geraniums are also som
II. times hung up by the roots on II
wall or from the joists. In spring II
nj tops Of these plants should be cut Q
"a within two or three inche Of Il
ground and the roots again plante