Before frost comes, roses of the tender sorts should be bent to the
ground and covered with coal ashes several inches deep, or if one does
not like the appearance of ashes on a lawn bed, the roses may be
enveloped in straw. All the summer blooming bulbs, such as dahlias,
tigridias, cannas, gladiolus, etc., should be lifted and stored in a dry,
warm closet. Tuberose bulbs require extra care, for if they get a touch
of frost they are worthless.
Plants in pots should be watered, and that most liberally, when they
are dry, and given no more until they are thirsty again. If you give
water every day to some plants the soil will soon become sodden and
sour. Nearly all plants are benefited by showering as often as twice a
week. In the greenhouse it is done every day. A brass syringe is the
best instrument for that purpose. It should be filled with clear water,
124 FLOWERS.
and the water thrown on the under side of the leaves as well as above,
to clean out thrips, and also aphis and red spider. Those who have no
syrjnge can take their plants to the sink and with a small wisp broom,
such as is used to brush clothes, give them a nice shower bath. Dip
the brush in the water, then draw the fingers across it. The object in
showering is to make the leaves clean and to cause the plant to " break,"
or put forth new leaves.
To sow evenly such fine seed as ferns, calceolaria, etc., take a piece
of white pasteboard, rub the seed lightly over it until it covers the exact
size of the pot or box it is to be sown in ; then invert on the soil, and by
tapping gently it. will fall as evenly as it was rubbed on the paste-
board.
Seedings in general should never be watered later than an hour or two
before sundown, as the damp surface is apt to produce a fungus which
will cause every plant to damp off, during the night.
Do not throw away your coal ashes or leave them out in the storms ;
they are valuable as an absorbent for night slops, also as a deodorizer
for vaults. Used in this way one of the most valuable fertilizers is
made.
Never allow weeds to get the start ; nip them in the bud.
All plants are benefited by having the ground stirred around them —
there is no exception to the rule. The use of the hoe or some similar
implement is generally the easiest mode of keeping the ground free from
weeds or grass.
Mildew is a disease produced by sudden changes of temperature, and
by a long continuance of damp, cloudy weather. The best remedies
are sulphur and soot ; sprinkle with water, and apply one of the reme-
dies as soon as you observe the disease.
For shady places, pansies, fuchsias, lilies of the valley, and some
herbaceous plants whose first home was the shady woods, seem to do
the best. The very best effect is produced by a bed of ornamental foli-
age plants. Take the castor bean for the center and around it cal-
edium escalentum, next row cannas, and then gold and silver leaf ger-
aniums, achryanthus, coleus, etc.
Page 110
Presented as published in 1886. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Before frost comes, roses of the tender sorts should be bent to the ground and covered with coal ashes several inches deep, or if one does not like the appearance of ashes on a lawn bed, the roses may be enveloped in straw. All the summer blooming bulbs, such as dahlias, tigridias, cannas, gladiolus, etc., should be lifted and stored in a dry, warm closet. Tuberose bulbs require extra care, for if they get a touch of frost they are worthless.
Plants in pots should be watered, and that most liberally, when they are dry, and given no more until they are thirsty again. If you give water every day to some plants the soil will soon become sodden and sour. Nearly all plants are benefited by showering as often as twice a week. In the greenhouse it is done every day. A brass syringe is the best instrument for that purpose. It should be filled with clear water,
and the water thrown on the under side of the leaves as well as above, to clean out thrips, and also aphis and red spider. Those who have no syringe can take their plants to the sink and with a small wisp broom, such as is used to brush clothes, give them a nice shower bath. Dip the brush in the water, then draw the fingers across it. The object in showering is to make the leaves clean and to cause the plant to " break," or put forth new leaves.
To sow evenly such fine seed as ferns, calceolaria, etc., take a piece of white pasteboard, rub the seed lightly over it until it covers the exact size of the pot or box it is to be sown in ; then invert on the soil, and by tapping gently it. will fall as evenly as it was rubbed on the pasteboard.
Seedings in general should never be watered later than an hour or two before sundown, as the damp surface is apt to produce a fungus which will cause every plant to damp off, during the night.
Do not throw away your coal ashes or leave them out in the storms ; they are valuable as an absorbent for night slops, also as a deodorizer for vaults. Used in this way one of the most valuable fertilizers is made.
Never allow weeds to get the start ; nip them in the bud.
All plants are benefited by having the ground stirred around them — there is no exception to the rule. The use of the hoe or some similar implement is generally the easiest mode of keeping the ground free from weeds or grass.
Mildew is a disease produced by sudden changes of temperature, and by a long continuance of damp, cloudy weather. The best remedies are sulphur and soot ; sprinkle with water, and apply one of the remedies as soon as you observe the disease.
For shady places, pansies, fuchsias, lilies of the valley, and some herbaceous plants whose first home was the shady woods, seem to do the best. The very best effect is produced by a bed of ornamental foliage plants. Take the castor bean for the center and around it caledium escalentum, next row cannas, and then gold and silver leaf geraniums, achryanthus, coleus, etc.