The De Soto County news. [volume] (Arcadia, Fla.) 1898-1924, 1916-12-07
FALL CARE OF FLOWERS.
Winter Protection for Perennial
Plants. How to Prepare and Store
Roots and Bulbs.

steps To be taken at this season for
placing the flower garden in shape
for winter will vary with tile kinds
specialists Of the United states de.
If plants grown and the latitude say
mrtment Of agriculture. In the case
n percnnalS. which die down tn the
ground, bur which should live through
the winter ana send up shoots again
on the advent Of warm weather. the
roots should be we'll nulched with
manure three or four inches deep as
soon as the ground freezes. In this
group are included such plants as pc.
onieS, larkspur, hollyhock, columbincS.
iris. platvcodoncs and perennial pop.
pies.
Cannas and Kindred Plants.
Plants such rs canras. dahliaS.
gadiolas ana caladlums. should have
their roots dug mp and stored in
cellar where the temperature will not
rise above GO nor fall below 80 de.
erees +. The root clamps If cannas
ana dahliaS should not be shaken free
Of soil. These plants with the soil
naturally adhering Ia them should he
placed on racks or in Slat boxes so
that air may circulate among them.
1t is important that the roots do not
become too warm or dry. and that no
frost shall reach them. The bulbs
Of gladlolls caladums and tuberoscs
on the other hand, should he careful.
ly cleaned Of soil and dried I'm the
open air for a day or two. They may
then lie stored in the cellar.
- Geranims.
In all but Semi.tropical portions of
the United States gernniums must be
taken indoors for winter. Florists us
ually make cuttings in the fall to
grow new plants I'm greenhouses for
spring use. This practice u.s. of course,
impracticable for the aerage house.
holder The latter may take M grow.
ing plants and hold them i'm a dor
mant condition by storing upright in |
boxes Of dry soil in a cellar having a |
of from 40 to 80 degrees.
The plants may he placed close to-
gether, with only a little dry soil
among the roots.
Pansies.
While taking many plants indoors
for the winter, the home gardener in
large section Of the country should
set ont in the fall the pansy plants
Which are to make up the spring beds
of these flowers. This procedure
should he followed in the country
south IF line from New York City
% Springfield, Ills. The young
llants should he coevred by coarse
manure at the first freezing of the
round before it has an opportunity
o thaw.
Preparing Shrubs for Winter.
While n number Of the shrubs COM
monty grown in the garden will go
through the winter without injury IL
ct alone, others must be given vary.
NC degrees Of special attention.
'mong the shrubs which need no I'm.
sual fall and winter care are snow.
all, spirea. mock orange and llacs.
Hydrangeas, even in the south. must
ave special winter protection, and
the north must he lifted set in tubs.
nd kept In frost proof cellar. An
lst and west line through Philadel-
hia is generally accepted as marking ,
he boundary north of which it is ..
ecessary to take hydrangeas indoors.
outh Of this line it is usually suffi.
ent to protect the tops Of the plants ,
18th straw or brush while they are I'm
leir outdoor locations. A little
anure or straw may be placed on
lis covering to hold it in place. The a
ugmansia, or thorn apple, should he S
Gated like the hydrangea. ~