The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1916-01-08
WITH THE FLOWERS
BY e. VAN

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.
II you contemplate having a flower
reserve a place for some of the old
fashioned flowers. Oftentimes 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
verbenas. Cuttings of verbenas start
ed now will DOT in about ten days.
Always remember that tall plants,
like hollyhocks, castor beans, sunflow-
ers and cosmos are best for back
grounds.
Protecting plants from cold drafts
about windows is a matter of much i'm
~portance. In case of severe winter
weather a certain amount of cold can
be warded off by placing over them
cones made of paper.
Plants will seldom do well where
gas and dust abound. Proper regula-
ton Of the heating apparatus will gen
orally 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 1t 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, a~zaleas, fuchsias, he.
liotropes, snapdragons and the like do
best If not watered too often during
the winter. But when 1t is done the
soil should be thoroughly soaked, and
the temperature of the room kept a
little higher for a few hours there
after.
The best time to water these is in
the morning and on a sunny day.
For starting early flowers, SOW the
seed in shallow boxes and plan to
transplant the plants at least twice be-
fore they are placed in the open
ground. In order to have them do well
it is also essential to put them where
the Temperature 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
car it requires, there is no flower
more satisfactory and beautiful than
the dahlia.
Such hardy bulbs as hyacinths, tu-
lips, lilies, crown imperials, phlox
irises and the like do better, as a rule,
If allowed to remain undisturbed in
the ground for years.
If you have any cold-frame plants,
such as v~iolets, roses and carnations,
don't fail to expose them more and
more to air for gradual hardening off
before planting.
Try growing geraniums this year.
Next to cannas, they will give more
satisfaction for the trouble expended
han 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 I'M
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 a
year earlier if peeled before planting.
Being dry, the husk requires a long
time to soak up so the new growth can
penetrate it, but if it is removed
growth starts at once.
For a perpetual delight all summer