o not fail to adopt some system of pruning, for that is the most
essential part of the secret to grow good grapes. Other necessary
information will no doubt be furnished by any reliable nurseryman with
whom you are dealing. I wish to say in conclusion that so far I have had
no trouble from any insects attacking the vines or fruit, and I have
always been able to produce fruit that commands the first premium
wherever exhibited.

Protect the Garden against Winter Weather.

U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE.

At this season many inquiries come to the United States Department of
Agriculture regarding the protection of garden plants and shrubs during
the winter. Such flowers as peonies and hollyhocks will come up again
the following year if they are properly protected during the winter,
while others, like cannas and dahlias, which are more accustomed to warm
climes, must have their roots or bulbs dug up and stored in a cellar.
The department's specialists give the following suggestions for "putting
the garden to bed":

_Hardy Perennials._--Cover hardy perennials, such as peonies, larkspur,
hollyhocks, columbines, iris, platycodons and perennial poppies, with a
good coating of manure or other litter to a depth of 3 or 4 inches. In
more southern localities this will hold the frost in the ground and keep
the plant from alternately freezing and thawing; in more northern
regions the manure will protect the plant from freezing to a depth that
will cut off its water supply.

_Cannas and Dahlias._--As soon as the tops of cannas, dahlias,
gladiolus, caladiums and similar plants are killed by frost, dig up the
roots or bulbs and store them in a cellar where the temperature will
remain at 55 degrees, and should never go below 50 or above 60 degrees.
Do not shake any more earth from the clumps of cannas and dahlias than
is necessary in removing them from the ground. Place the plants on racks
or in slat boxes so the air may circulate freely through them. No frost
must reach the roots nor must they become too warm or dry.

_Shrubs._--As a rule shrubs should not be trimmed in the fall. This
process is timely immediately after the blooming period, if this is in
the spring, as in the case of the snowball. If the shrubs bloom in the
fall, as do some hydrangeas, the rose of Sharon, and some lilacs, they
should not be cut directly after blooming but in the spring of the
following year. Lilacs, snowballs and mock orange should be let alone