Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/708

 THE GARDEN 682 also of any late-flowering bulbs which may remain to be planted, except anemones and ranuncuH, which are best left nntil the sprmg. Protect shrubs after planting by laying straw or bracken over the roots, and see that they are properly secured to stakes to keep them from being blown about. Reconstructive Work In open weather a certain amount of re- constructive work may be carried through, such as the making ot fresh flower-beds or altering others, forming rockeries, rc-setting edges, etc., etc. Where, as in the case of border-makmg, permanent effects are required, it always pays to do the work thoroughly well, trenching two or three feet deep, seeing that drainage is efficient, and putting in plenty of good manure. The following is the right method to follow in forming paths : The pathway should be dug out to the depth of about a foot, and then filled in with broken bricks and large stones to the depth of about six inches, forcing them down firmly. On the top of these, clinkers should be laid and rolled, filling in the crevices with sifted coal-ashes if to be had. The clinkers can be procured from a gasworks or factory if enough refuse from the greenhouse stoke- hole is not available. Drainage Finally, a layer of good fine binding gravel, three inches dee}), should be laid on, raking quite smooth and even and rolling afterwards. The centre must be kept slightly higher than the sides, for the sake of proper drainage. Small gardens do not always require draining with pipes, the rubble, etc., being sufficient. Where it is needful to lay drains, however, be careful to have a solid bottom. The usual method is to lay three-inch pipes down either side on a level with the base of the rubble, fixing catch-pits about i| feet deep, with a grating above, at every 30 feet or so. The Conservatory A good show of cyclamens and Chinese primulas should now be ready for con- servatory decoration. Hardy alpines may be brought on for the same purpose in the greenhouse, and flowered early in this Way. The last ol the chrysanthemums and some of the earhest bulbs may now be brought in for decoration. Keep the chrysanthe- mums, as well as other plants, such as Begonia Gloire de Lorraine, carefully looked over, removing all dead leaves and flow^ers. It is a good time for trimming the brown tips of palms and other foliage subjects. Plants with broad leaves should be well sponged with Gishurst compound, or with soaparite (soft soap and water, mixed with a little paraffin). If they are infected with thrip or greenfly, they should be fumigated. Bougainvilleas and allamandas may be pruned and cleaned. Keep the conserva- tory warm, not letting the temperature fall below 45°. The Stove and Greenhouse The present is a good opportunity for cleaning and fumigating in the stove also, though damp conditions should not be allowed towards the end of the day. The night temperature need not exceed 60°. Roses, azaleas, rhododendrons, spiraeas, dielvtra, and Hly of the valley ran be bronijhr ^.y/ Fari'traincd fruit tree, protected for winter by straw or bracken Copyright yeit ft on here, and bulbs forced, if desired, though the bulbs last longer if not subjected to too much heat. A packet of seed of antirrhinums may be sown in the greenhouse to provide plants which flower the same summer. Verbenas can be sown, and tuberous begonias also. Old plants of verbena may be encouraged with genial heat in order to make growth for a new stock of cuttings. Give weak liquid manure to camellias, and also to cyclamens and primulas, which are being got ready for succession. Bring on bouvardias. Re-pot roses, and place them in a warm house as a start. Push on spiraeas in a warm temperature. The Guelder rose is another subject which responds to very gentle forcing, in prefer- ence to stove-heat, as also lilacs, azaleas and staphylea colchica. Plants in frames and pits should have the same treatment as in December. Especial care should be taken to avoid coddUng cuttings, etc., in cold frames. Plants for Succession Among other plants for vvinter decoration in a moderately warm temperature is eupatorium riparium, which bears pretty white flowers. It requires the same treat- ment as a bush chrysanthemum. Other