Page:Australian enquiry book of household and general information.djvu/252

 meets in a centre, as it were; now run a piece of wire through the ring, or rather round the holes, draw it tight and twist with your nippers, and bend the bottom of your basket into place. Then work round the top edge, and with the nippers turn over all ends of wire, run a strong piece of galvanised wire round the edge, and bend into shape. It is wonderful what very pretty baskets can be so made. To hang them, twist a length of wire in each corner and let them meet at the other end, and twist into a ring. Very quaint receptacles for plants can be made out of bark, and hollow logs sawn into lengths also make rustic pots for shrubs, tree ferns, etc. If you live in the bush you will be able to find plenty of ferns and orchids with which to start your fernery. No matter how common they help to fill up and make an artistic whole, and by and bye you can weed out those ferns that have not improved, or that you do not care for. I have seen maiden-hair develop from a poor weedy variety to a fine handsome fern. The same applies to pot plants. Liquid manure is a great help, but it must only be used sparingly, and when the plants show the need of some stimulant. At the beginning of spring, just when most of the plants are waking up after their winter rest, an application of liquid manure every second or third morning for a fortnight will help them to strengthen; then again an application or two just before flowering. Coleus are favorite pot plants, and I know none more interesting, there being such scope for experimenting in the way of developing fresh tints and deeper shades. I have seen great results from application of soot to the roots, also of lime and charcoal.

When starting a stand geraniums are the quickest growers, soonest make a show, and nothing is prettier than the double varieties.

To improve the poor ferns in your fernery when once they have taken root and you are sure they are growing, then begin to treat them with applications to enlarge their fronds. Liquid manure, and another stimulant I have used successfully is ammonia and water, a teaspoonful to a small watering can of warm water.

I am a great believer in salt for some plants. Coleus, I have found improved greatly when I had mixed a little salt round the roots. My advice to young gardeners is experiment whenever you can. You hear of something: it may be a remedy, a new plant, a new theory, anything, no matter how trifling, you try it, and from it is born another new idea which you try.

But re pot plants: any one who has time and inclination to devote to the matter, can produce changes and effects undreamt of by combinations of soot, sand, salt, soda, charcoal, coloured earths and many more. Just use your own wit and try anything you can. If you lose a few plants, never mind, you are gaining