The Monticellonian., 1915-12-09
WITH THE FLOWERS
By E. VAN BENTHUYsEN.

Don't be too anxious to SOW flower seeds for next summers growth until you have studied what you want to have in your garden and how you are to obtain the best results.
 If you contemplate having flower garden next summer, see to it that you reserve place for some of the old fashioned flowers. 0ftentimes a bou. quet of these will bring more tender memories to your friends and awaken more of their gratitude for you than any amount of the newer varieties.
 February is a good month in which to start the cutting of geraniums and yerbenas. Cuttings of verbenas start. ed now will root in about ten days
 Always remember that tall plants like hollyhoeks, castor beans, sunfow- CTS and cosmos are best for back grounds
 Protecting plants from cold drafts about windows is matter of much .ir,- portance. In case of seyere.s< VI wint or weather certain amennt af cold can eens. be warded ,1sa of off SS placing over them N0eo uioue " paper
 riahts .yill seldom do we'll where gas aii9' dust abound Proper regula- of the heating apparatus will gen. eral1y eliminate the former and regu- lar spraying or sponging of the foliage of the latter.
 In doing this the under side of the leaves should be looked after. for it is there that insects first make their ap- pearance and unless checked by spray ing they will soon spread
 Such house plants as geraniums. be- gonias. petunias, azaleas. fuchsias, he- hotropes. snapdragons and the like do best if not watered too often during the winter. But when it is done the soil should be thoroughly soaked, and the temperature of the room kept a little higher for few hours there after.
 The best time to water these is in the morning and on a sunny day.
 Tor starting early flowers, SOW the seed in shallsw boxes and plan to transplant the plants at least twice be- Shts pid1Sd III tit OptH ground In order to have them do well it Is also essential to put them where the temeprature Is lower after each transplanting. In this way they will be hardened off" and made more ready for setting out in the open ground
 Considering the small amount of care il requires. there is no flower more satisfactory and beautiful than the dahlia
 Such hsrdy bulbs as hyacinths, tu- lips, lilies, crown imperials, phlox rises and the like do better, as a rule ii allowed to remain undisturbed in the ground for years.
 If you have any cold-frame plants such as vio>ats. roses and carnations, don't fail to expose them more and more to air for gradual hardening of before planting.
 Try growing geraniums this year Next to cannas. they will give more satisfaction for the trouble expended than almost any other flower mention able Be sure to get those. however adapted for growing in beds
 When your Easter lilies get through blooming water them until the leaves begin to fade. then withhold water un til the tops die. When that occurs you can put the pots in the cellar and leave them there until autumn.
 Gladiolus bulblets will blossom g year earlier if peeled before planting Being dry. the husk requires long time to soak up so the new growth car penetrate 1t, but if it is removed growth starts at once
 For perpetual delight all summer few vines are better to grow than thu Madeira and the Columbian climber
 Their foliage is of very rich glossy green. and the delicate whit, flowers. or rich clusters. of the Ma deira vine are not only abundant, bu deliciously fragrant. Both vines ar, easy to grow. and in fairly good soi will attain height of 20 or 20 feet.
 Although the asparagus sprenger produces only tiny flowers, it's foliag is so glorious. so green and restful t the eye. that it is plant much to b desired. Not requiring great amour of sun, 1t can be placed back of othe plants and. if somewhat above then