from the ,google ,print project47       
,,amateur ,,gardencraft   ,illustration3
           ,not wholly in the busy      
world1 nor quite    ,beyond it1 blooms  
the garden that ,i love  ,tennyson      
,,amateur    ,,gardencraft     ,a ,,book
 ,,for ,,the ,,home-,,maker    ,,and    
,,garden ,,lover     ,,by    ,,eben ,e4 
,,rexford     ,,with #cd ,,illustrations
     ,illustration     ,,philadelphia   
,,london    ,j4 ,b4 ,,lippincott        
,,company    #aiab     ,,copyright1     
#aiab1 ,,by ,j4 ,b4 ,,lippincott        
,,company     ,,published ,,february1   
#aiab     ,,printed ,,by ,j4 ,b4        
,,lippincott ,,company    ,,at ,,the    
,,washington ,,square ,,press           
,,philadelphia1 ,u4,s4,a4     ,,foreword
   ,the home that affords the most      
pleasure to its owner is the one which  
is largely the result of personal effort
 in the development of its              
possibilities4 ,the ready-made home1 if 
,i may be allowed the expression1 may be
 equally as comfortable1 from the       

standpoint of convenience1--and possibly
 a great deal more so1--but it          
invariably lacks the charm which invests
 the place that has developed under our 
own management1 by slow and easy stages1
 until it seems to have become part of  
ourselves4  ,home-making is a process of
 evolution4 ,we take up the work when   
everything connected with it is in a    
more or less chaotic condition1 probably
 without any definite plan in mind4 ,the
 initial act in the direction of        
development1 whatever it may be1        
suggests almost immediately something   
else that can be done to advantage1 and 
in this way we go on doing little things
 from day to day1 until the time comes  
when we suddenly discover what wonderful
 things have been accomplished by our   
patient and persistent efforts1 and we  
are surprised and delighted at the      
result4 ,were we to plan it all out     
before beginning it1 very likely the    
undertaking would seem so formidable    
that it would discourage us4 ,but the   

evolutionary process takes place so     
gradually1 as we work hand in hand with 
that most delightful of all companions1 
,nature1 that work becomes play1 and we 
get more enjoyment out of it1 as it goes
 along1 than it is possible to secure in
 any other way if we are lovers of the  
beauty that belongs about the ideal     
home4 ,the man or woman who sees little 
or nothing to admire in tree1 or shrub1 
or flower1 can have no conception of the
 pleasure that grows out of planting    
these about the home--our home--and     
watching them develop from tiny plant1  
or seed to the fruition of full         
maturity4 ,the place casts off the      
bareness which characterizes the        
beginning of most homes1 by almost      
imperceptible degrees1 until it becomes 
a thing of beauty that seems to have    
been almost a creation of our own1      
because every nook and corner of it is  
vital with the essence of ourselves4    
,whatever of labor is connected with the
 undertaking is that of love which      

carries with it a most delightful       
gratification as it progresses4 ,in     
proportion as we infuse into it a desire
 to make the most of any and everything 
that will attract1 and please1 and      
beautify1 we reap the reward of our     
efforts4 ,happy is the man who can point
 his friends to a lovely home and       
say--,i have done what ,i could to make 
it what it is4 ,i have done it--not the 
professional who goes about the country 
making what he calls homes at so much a 
day1 or by the job4 ,the home that      
somebody has made for us never appeals  
to us as does the one into which we have
 put ourselves4 ,bear that in mind1 and 
be wise1 ,o friend of mine1 and be your 
own home-maker4  ,few of us could plan  
out the ,home ,beautiful1 at the        
beginning1 if we were to undertake to do
 so4 ,there may be a mind-picture of it 
as we think we would like it to be1 but 
we lack the knowledge by which such     
results as we have in mind are to be    
secured4 ,therefore we must be content  

to begin in a humble way1 and let the   
work we undertake show us what to do    
next1 as it progresses4 ,we may never   
attain to the degree of knowledge that  
would make us successful if we were to  
set ourselves up as professional        
gardeners1 but it doesn't matter much   
about that1 since that is not what we   
have in mind when we begin the work of  
home-making4 ,we are simply working by  
slow and easy steps toward an ideal     
which we may never realize1 but the     
ideal is constantly before us to urge us
 on1 and the home-instinct actuates us  
in all our efforts to make the place in 
which we live so beautiful that it will 
have for those we love1 and those who   
may come after us1 a charm that no other
 place on earth will ever have until the
 time comes when they take up the work  
of home-making for themselves4          
,illustration3 ,,pillar-,,trained       
,,vines  ,the man or woman who begins   
the improvement and the beautifying of  
the home as a sort of recreation1 as so 

many do1 will soon feel the thrill of   
the delightful occupation1 and be       
inspired to greater undertakings than he
 dreamed of at the beginning4 ,one of   
the charms of home-making is that it    
grows upon you1 and before you are aware
 of it that which was begun without a   
definite purpose in view becomes so     
delightfully absorbing that you find    
yourself thinking about it in the       
intervals of other work1 and are        
impatient to get out among the green    
things growing1 and dig1 and plant1 and 
prune1 and train4 ,you feel1 ,i fancy1  
something of the enthusiasm that ,adam  
must have felt when he looked over      
,eden1 and saw what great things were   
waiting to be done in it4 ,i am quite   
satisfied he saw chances for improvement
 on every hand4 ,god had placed there   
the material for the first gardener to  
work with1 but ,he had wisely left it   
for the other to do with it what he     
thought best1 when actuated by the      
primal instinct which makes gardeners of

 so many1 if not the most1 of us when   
the opportunity to do so comes our way4 
,i do not advocate the development of   
the aesthetic features of the home from 
the standpoint of dollars and cents4 ,i 
urge it because ,i believe it is the    
duty of the home-owner to make it as    
pleasant as it can well be made1 and    
because ,i believe in the gospel of     
beauty as much as ,i believe in the     
gospel of the ,bible4 ,it is the        
religion that appeals to the finer      
instincts1 and calls out and develops   
the better impulses of our nature4 ,it  
is the religion that sees back of every 
tree1 and shrub1 and flower1 the ,god   
that makes all things--the ,god that    
plans--the ,god that expects us to make 
the most and the best of all the        
elements of the good and the beautiful  
which ,he has given into our care4  ,in 
the preparation of this book ,i have had
 in mind the fact that comparatively few
 home-owners who set about the          
improvement of the home-grounds know    

what to do1 and what to make use of4    
,for the benefit of such persons ,i have
 tried to give clear and definite       
instructions that will enable them to   
work intelligently4 ,i have written from
 personal experience in the various     
phases of gardening upon which ,i have  
touched in this book4 ,i am quite       
confident that the information given    
will stand the test of most thorough    
trial4 ,what ,i have done with the      
various plants ,i speak of1 others can  
do if they set about it in the right    
way1 and with the determination of      
succeeding4 ,the will will find the way 
to success4 ,i would not be understood  
as intending to convey the impression   
that ,i consider my way as the way4 ,by 
no means4 ,others have accomplished the 
same results by different methods4 ,i   
simply tell what ,i have done1 and how  
,i have done it1 and leave it to the    
home-maker to be governed by the results
 of my experience or that of others who 
have worked toward the same end4 ,we may

 differ in methods1 but the outcome is1 
in most instances1 the same4 ,i have    
written from the standpoint of the      
amateur1 for other amateurs who would   
make the improvement of the home-grounds
 a pleasure and a means of relaxation   
rather than a source of profit in a     
financial sense1 believing that what ,i 
have to say will commend itself to the  
non-professional gardener as sensible1  
practical1 and helpful1 and strictly in 
line with the things he needs to know   
when he gets down to actual work4  ,i   
have also tried to make it plain that   
much of which goes to the making of the 
home is not out of reach of the man of  
humble means--that it is possible for   
the laboring man to have a home as truly
 beautiful in the best sense of the term
 as the man can have who has any amount 
of money to spend--that it is not the   
money that we put into it that counts so
 much as the love for it and the desire 
to take advantage of every chance for   
improvement4 ,home1 for home's sake1 is 

the idea that should govern4 ,money can 
hire the work done1 but it cannot infuse
 into the result the satisfaction that  
comes to the man who is his own         
home-maker4  ,but not every person who  
reads this book will be a home-maker in 
the sense spoken of above4 ,it will come
 into the hands of those who have homes 
about which improvements have already   
been made by themselves or others1 but  
who take delight in the cultivation of  
shrubs and plants because of love for   
them4 ,many of these persons get a great
 deal of pleasure out of experimenting  
with them4 ,others do not care to spend 
time in experiments1 but would be glad  
to find a short cut to success4 ,to such
 this book will make a strong appeal1   
for ,i feel confident it will help them 
to achieve success in gardening         
operations that are new to them if they 
follow the instruction to be found in   
its pages4 ,i have not attempted to tell
 all about gardening1 for there is much 
about it that ,i have yet to learn4 ,i  

expect to keep on learning as long as ,i
 live1 for there is always more and more
 for us to find out about it4 ,that's   
one of its charms4 ,but ,i have sought  
to impart the fundamental principles of 
it as ,i have arrived at a knowledge of 
them1 from many years of labor among    
trees1 and shrubs1 and flowers--a labor 
of love--and it is with a sincere hope  
that ,i have not failed in my purpose   
that ,i give this book to               
,,the ,,home-,,maker ,,and ,,the        
,,garden-,,lover4                       
,,the ,,author4        ,,contents       
,,page     ,,the ,,lawn3 ,,how ,,to     
,,make ,,it ,,and ,,how ,,to ,,take     
,,care    ,,of ,,it                     
#ag     ,,planting ,,the ,,lawn         
#cd     ,,shrubs                        
#di     ,,vines                         
#fh     ,,the ,,hardy ,,border          
#ha     ,,the ,,garden ,,of ,,annuals   
#ig     ,,the ,,bulb ,,garden           
#aaf     ,,the ,,rose3 ,,its ,,general  
,,care ,,and ,,culture                  

#abh     ,,the ,,rose ,,as ,a ,,summer  
,,bedder                                
#adi     ,,the ,,dahlia                 
#aef     ,,the ,,gladiolus              
#aff     ,,lilies                       
#agb     ,,plants ,,for ,,special       
,,purposes                              
#agf     ,,arbors1 ,,summer-,,houses1   
,,pergolas1 ,,and ,,other ,,garden      
,,features                              
#ahi     ,,carpet-,,bedding             
#bje     ,,flowering ,,and ,,foliage    
,,plants ,,for ,,edging ,,beds ,,and    
,,walks                                 
#baf     ,,planning ,,the ,,garden      
#bbc     ,,the ,,back-,,yard ,,garden   
#bbj     ,,the ,,wild ,,garden          
#bcd     ,,the ,,winter ,,garden        
#bdc     ,,window ,,and ,,veranda       
,,boxes                                 
#bej     ,,spring ,,work ,,in ,,the     
,,garden                                
#beg     ,,summer ,,work ,,in ,,the     
,,garden                                
#bfd     ,,fall ,,work ,,in ,,the       

,,garden                                
#bfh     ,,by ,,way ,,of ,,postscript   
#bgb        ,,illustrations             
,,page     ,,not ,,wholly ,,in ,,the    
,,busy ,,world1 ,,nor ,,quite ,,beyond  
,,it1 ,,blooms ,,the ,,garden ,,that ,i 
,,love                                  
,frontispiece     ,,pillar-,,trained    
,,vines                                 
#h     ,,ivy1 ,,climbing ,,roses1 ,,and 
,,colorado ,,blue ,,spruce              
#cd     ,a ,,bit ,,of ,,informal        
,,border                                
#cg     ,,shrubs ,,along ,,the          
,,driveway                              
#dd     ,,snowball                      
#eg     ,,american ,,ivy ,,and          
,,geraniums                             
#fj     ,,honeysuckle                   
#gc     ,,japan ,,ivy ,,growing ,,on    
,,wall                                  
#ge     ,,shrubs ,,and ,,perennials     
,,combined ,,in ,,border                
#hc     ,,old-,,fashioned ,,hollyhocks  
#hh     ,,the ,,peony ,,at ,,its ,,best 

#ij     ,a ,,bit ,,of ,,the ,,border    
,,of ,,perennial ,,plants               
#ib     ,a ,,bed ,,of ,,asters          
#ajf     ,,bed ,,of ,,white ,,hyacinths 
,,bordered ,,with ,,pansies             
#abe     ,,hybrid ,,perpetual ,,rose    
#acj     ,,rose ,,trellis               
#acf     ,,rambler ,,roses              
#adb     ,,dorothy ,,perkins            
,,rose--,,the ,,best ,,of ,,the         
,,ramblers                    #ade      
,,tea ,,rose                            
#aeb     ,,cactus ,,dahlia              
#afj     ,a ,,garden ,,glimpse          
#agj     ,,auratum ,,lily               
#agd     ,,the ,,odds ,,and ,,ends      
,,corner                                
#ahj     ,,summer ,,house               
#aia     ,a ,,pergola ,,suggestion      
#aie     ,a ,,simple ,,pergola          
,,framework                             
#aih     ,,gardener',s ,,tool-,,house   
#bjj     ,a ,,border ,,of ,,creeping    
,,phlox                                 
#bbj     ,,in ,,summer                  

#bbd     ,,in ,,winter                  
#bbd     ,,porch ,,box                  
#bch     ,,porch ,,box                  
#bed     ,,planting ,,to ,,hide         
,,foundation ,,walls                    
#bgb  ,the ,illustrations are reproduced
 from photographs by ,j4 ,f4 ,murray4   
99       99       99       99       99  
,,the ,,lawn3 ,,how ,,to ,,make ,,it    
,,and ,,how ,,to ,,take ,,care ,,of ,,it
   ,the owner of the average small home 
seldom goes to the expense of employing 
the professional gardener to do the work
 of lawn-making4 ,sometimes he cannot   
afford to do so4 ,sometimes skilled     
labor is not obtainable4 ,the           
consequence is1 in the majority of      
cases1 the lawn1--or what1 by courtesy1 
is called by that name1--is a sort of   
evolution which is an improvement on the
 original conditions surrounding the    
home1 but which never reaches a         
satisfactory stage4 ,we see such lawns  
everywhere--rough1 uneven1 bare in      
spots1 anything but attractive in a     

general way1 and but little better than 
the yard which has been given no        
attention1 were it not for the shrubs   
and plants that have been set out in    
them4 ,the probabilities are that if you
 ask the owner of such a place why he   
has no lawn worth the name1 he will give
 one or the other of the reasons ,i have
 made mention of above as his excuse for
 the existing condition of things about 
the home4 ,if you ask him why he has not
 undertaken the work himself1 he will   
most likely answer that he lacks the    
knowledge necessary to the making of a  
fine lawn1 and rather than experiment   
with it he has chosen to let it alone4  
,now the fact is--lawn-making has       
nothing mysterious about it1 as so many 
seem to think4 ,it does not call for    
skilled labor4 ,it need not be an       
expensive undertaking4 ,any man who owns
 a home that he desires to make the most
 of can make himself a lawn that will be
 quite as satisfactory1 in nearly every 
instance1 as the one made by the        

professional gardener--more so1 in fact1
 since what we make for ourselves we    
appreciate much more than that which we 
hire made for us4 ,the object of this   
paper is to assist home-makers in doing 
just this kind of work4 ,i shall        
endeavor to make it so plain and        
practical that anyone so inclined can do
 all that needs doing in a satisfactory 
manner4 ,it may not have that nicety of 
finish1 when completed1 that            
characterizes the work of the           
professional1 but it will harmonize with
 its surroundings more perfectly1       
perhaps1 and will afford us quite as    
much pleasure as the work of the expert4
  ,if the house has just been built1    
very likely everything about it is in a 
more or less chaotic condition4 ,odds   
and ends of lumber1 mortar1 brick1 and  
all kinds of miscellaneous building     
material scattered all over the place1  
the ground uneven1 treeless1 shrubless1 
and utterly lacking in all the elements 
that go to make a place pleasing and    

attractive4 ,out of this chaos order    
must be evolved1 and the evolution may  
be satisfactory in every way--if we only
 begin right4  ,the first thing to do is
 to clear away all the rubbish that     
clutters up the place4 ,do not make the 
mistake of dumping bits of wood into    
hollows with the idea that you are      
making a good foundation for a          
lawn-surface4 ,this wood will decay in a
 year or two1 and there will be a       
depression there4 ,fill into the low    
places only such matter as will retain  
its original proportions1 like brick and
 stone4 ,make kindling-wood of the      
rubbish from lumber1 or burn it4 ,get   
rid of it in some way before you begin  
operations4 ,what you want1 at this     
stage of the proceedings1 is a ground   
entirely free from anything that will   
interfere with grading the surface of   
it4  ,if the lot upon which the house   
stands is a comparatively level one--or 
rather1 was1 before the house was       
built--it is generally easy to secure a 

slope from the house on all sides1 by   
filling in about the building with the  
soil thrown up from the cellar or in    
making excavation for the walls4 ,if no 
excavation of any kind has been         
made--and quite often1 nowadays1        
foundation walls are built on the ground
 instead of starting a foot or two below
 the surface1--a method never to be     
advised because of the risk of injury to
 the building from the action of frost  
in the soil1--it may be necessary to    
make the lot evenly level1 unless one   
goes to the expense of filling in4 ,a   
slight slope away from the house-walls  
is always desirable1 as it adds vastly  
to the general effect4 ,enough soil to  
secure this slope will not cost a great 
deal1 if it does not happen to be at    
hand1 and one will never regret the     
outlay4  ,if the ground is very uneven1 
it is well to have it ploughed1 and     
afterward harrowed to pulverize the soil
 and secure a comparatively level       
surface4 ,do not be satisfied with one  

harrowing4 ,go over it again and again  
until not a lump or clod remains in it4 
,the finer the soil is before seed is   
sown the better will be the sward you   
grow on it4  ,if the surface of the yard
 is not uneven1 all the grading         
necessary can be done by spading up the 
soil to the depth of a foot1 and then   
working it over thoroughly with1 first1 
a heavy hoe to break apart the lumps1   
and then an iron rake to pulverize it4  
,i say nothing about drainage because   
not one lot-owner in a hundred can be   
prevailed on to go to the trouble and   
expense of arranging for it4 ,if ,i were
 to devote a dozen pages to this phase  
of the work1 urging that it be given    
careful attention1 my advice would be   
ignored4 ,the matter of drainage        
frightens the home-maker out of         
undertaking the improvement of the yard1
 nine times out of ten1 if you urge its 
importance upon him4 ,if the location is
 a rather low one1 however1 it is a     
matter that ought not to be overlooked1 

but it is not so important if the lot is
 high enough for water to run off       
speedily after a shower4 ,if any system 
of drainage is arranged for1 ,i would   
advise turning the work over to the     
professionals1 who thoroughly understand
 what ought to be done and how to do it4
 ,this is a matter in which the amateur 
must work to a disadvantage when he     
undertakes to do it for himself4  ,if   
there are hollows and depressions1 fill 
them by levelling little hummocks which 
may be found on other parts of the      
ground1 or by having soil drawn in from 
outside4 ,in filling low places1 beat   
the soil down solidly as you add it4    
,unless this is done--and done well--the
 soil you add will settle1 after a      
little1 and the result will be a        
depression--not as deep as the original 
one1 of course1 but still a depression  
that will make a low place that will be 
very noticeable4 ,but by packing and    
pounding down the earth as you fill it  
in1 it can be made as solid as the soil 

surrounding it1 and in this way all     
present and future unevenness of the    
soil can be done away with4 ,it is      
attention to such details as these that 
makes a success of the work1 and ,i     
would urge upon the amateur lawn-maker  
the absolute necessity of working slowly
 and carefully1 and slighting nothing4  
,undue haste and the lack of            
thoroughness will result in a slovenly  
job that you will be ashamed of1 before 
it is done1 and so disgusted with1 on   
completion1 that you will not feel like 
doing the work over again for fear      
another effort may be more              
unsatisfactory than the first one4      
,therefore do good work in every respect
 as you go along1 and the work you do   
will be its own reward when done4  ,it  
is impossible to put too much work on   
the soil4 ,that is--you cannot make it  
too fine and mellow4 ,the finer it is   
the finer the sward will be4 ,a coarse1 
lumpy soil will always make an          
unsatisfactory lawn-surface4  ,most     

soils will need the addition of         
considerable manure1 and poor ones will 
need a good deal4 ,to secure a strong1  
luxuriant stand of grass it is very     
essential that it should be fed well4   
,while grass will grow almost anywhere1 
it is only on rich soils that you see it
 in perfection1 and the ideal lawn      
demands a sward as nearly perfect as    
possible4  ,but ,i would not advise the 
use of barnyard manure1 for this reason3
 ,it contains the seeds of the very     
weeds you must keep out of your lawn if 
you would have it what it ought to      
be1--weeds that will eventually ruin    
everything if not got rid of1 like      
,dandelion1 ,burdock1 and ,thistle1 to  
say nothing of the smaller plants that  
are harder to fight than those ,i have  
made mention of4 ,we cannot be too      
careful in guarding against these       
trespassers which can be kept out much  
easier than they can be put to rout     
after they have secured a foothold4     
,therefore ,i would urge the            

substitution of a commercial fertilizer 
for barnyard manure in every instance4  
,scatter it liberally over the soil as  
soon as spaded1 or ploughed1 and work it
 in with the harrow or the hoe or rake1 
when you are doing the work of          
pulverization4  ,if you do not          
understand just what kind of fertilizer 
to make use of1 tell the dealer as      
nearly as you can the nature of the soil
 you propose to use it on1 and he will  
doubtless be able to supply you with the
 article you require4 ,it is always safe
 to trust to the judgment of the man who
 knows just what a fertilizer will do1  
as to the kind and quantity to make use 
of4 ,soils differ so widely that it is  
not possible to advise a fertilizer that
 will give satisfaction everywhere4     
,this being the case1 ,i advise you to  
consult local authorities who understand
 the adaptation of fertilizers to soils 
before making a choice4  ,april is a    
good month in which to seed the lawn4   
,so is ,may1 for that matter1 but the   

sooner the grass gets a start the       
better1 for early starting will put it  
in better condition to withstand the    
effects of midsummer heat because it    
will have more and stronger roots than  
later-sown grass can have by the time a 
demand is made upon its vitality4       
,sowing lawn-grass seed evenly is an    
undertaking that most amateurs fail in4 
,the seed is light as chaff1 and every  
puff of wind1 no matter how light1 will 
carry it far and wide4 ,choose a still  
day1 if possible1 for sowing1 and       
cross-sow4 ,that is--sow from north to  
south1 and then from east to west4 ,in  
this way you will probably be able to   
get the seed quite evenly distributed4  
,hold the hand close to the ground1     
filled with seed1 and then1 as you make 
a circular motion from right to left1   
and back again1 let the seed slip from  
between your fingers as evenly as       
possible4 ,a little experimenting along 
this line will enable you to do quite   
satisfactory work4 ,you may use up a    

good deal of seed in experimenting1 but 
that will not matter4 ,one common       
mistake in lawn-making is to use too    
little seed4 ,a thinly-seeded lawn will 
not give you a good sward the first     
season1 but a thickly-seeded one will4  
,in fact1 it will have that velvety look
 which is one of the chief charms of any
 lawn1 after its first mowing4 ,i would 
advise you to tell the dealer of whom   
you purchase seed the size of your lot1 
and let him decide on the quantity of   
seed required to make a good job of it4 
,in buying seed get only the very best  
on the market4 ,but only of reliable    
dealers4 ,by reliable dealers ,i mean   
such firms as have established a        
reputation for honesty and fair dealing 
all along the line4 ,such dealers have  
to live up to their reputations1 and    
they will not work off upon you an      
inferior article as the dealer who has1 
as yet1 no reputation to live up to may1
 and often does1 charging you for it a  
price equal to1 or beyond1 that which   

the honest dealer would ask for his     
superior grade of seed4 ,in order to    
have a fine sward it is absolutely      
necessary that you must have good seed4 
,cheap seed--and that means poor seed1  
always--does not contain the varieties  
of grasses necessary to the making of a 
rich1 deep1 velvety sward1 and it almost
 always does contain the seeds of       
noxious weeds which will make your lawn 
a failure4 ,therefore patronize the     
dealers in whose honesty you have ample 
reason to have entire confidence1 and   
buy the very best seed they have in     
stock4  ,after sowing1 roll the surface 
of the lawn to imbed the seed in the    
soil1 and make the ground firm enough   
about it to retain sufficient moisture  
to insure germination4 ,in three or four
 days the tiny blades ought to begin to 
show4 ,in a week the surface will seem  
covered with a green mist1 and in a     
fortnight's time you will be able to    
see1 with a little exercise of the      
imagination1 the kind of lawn you are   

going to have4 ,if the season is a dry  
one it may be well to sprinkle the soil 
every day1 after sundown4 ,use water    
liberally1 and keep on doing so until   
rain comes or the plants have taken hold
 of the moister soil below with their   
delicate feeding-roots4  ,i would not   
advise mowing until the grass is at     
least three inches high4 ,then clip     
lightly with a sharp-bladed mower4 ,just
 cut away the top of the grass4 ,to mow 
close1 while the grass is getting a     
start1 is the worst thing you can do4   
,when it begins to thicken up by        
stooling out1 then1 and not till then1  
will you be warranted in setting the    
mower so that it will cut closely4 ,but 
never shear the sward1 as some do4 ,you 
will never have a turf like velvet if   
you do that4 ,let there be an inch and a
 half or two inches of the grass-blade  
left4  ,the importance of having good   
tools to work with1 in taking care of   
the lawn1 ought not to be overlooked4 ,a
 mower whose blades are dull will tear  

the grass off1 and make it look ragged1 
as if gnawed away by animals feeding on 
it1 while the mower whose blades are of 
the proper sharpness will cut it as     
evenly and as neatly as if a razor had  
been applied to it4 ,you cannot         
appreciate the difference until you have
 seen a specimen of each1 and compared  
them4  ,some persons advocate raking the
 lawn after each mowing4 ,others advise 
leaving the clippings to act as a sort  
of mulch4 ,if the clippings are allowed 
to remain1 they wilt1 and this will     
detract from the appearance of the sward
 for a short time1 but by the next day  
they will not be noticeable4 ,raking as 
soon as mowed makes the lawn more       
immediately presentable4 ,i have never  
been able to see any great deal of      
difference in the two methods1 except as
 to appearance1 therefore ,i would      
advise the lawn-owner to try both       
methods and adopt the one that pleases  
him most4 ,if a rake is used1 let it be 
one with blunt teeth that will not tear 

the sward4 ,there is such a rake on the 
market1 its teeth being made of bent    
wire4 ,on no account use a sharp-toothed
 iron rake4 ,that is sure to injure the 
sward4  ,be regular in your attention to
 the lawn4 ,do not let the grass get so 
tall that the mower will not do a good  
job in cutting it4 ,this necessitates   
mowing at regular intervals4 ,if you mow
 only once a week1 ,i would advise the  
use of the rake1 as long grass-clippings
 are always unsightly because they      
remain on top of the sward1 while short 
clippings from frequent mowing sink into
 it1 and are soon out of sight4  ,in    
case the lawn is neglected for a week or
 more1 once going over it with the mower
 will not make it very presentable4     
,mow1 and then rake1 and then go over it
 again1 cutting across the first swaths4
 ,the second cutting will result in an  
even surface1 but it will not be as     
satisfactory as that secured by regular 
mowings1 at intervals of two or three   
days4  ,it is a most excellent plan to  

scatter bonemeal over the surface of the
 lawn in midsummer1 and again in fall4  
,use the fine meal1 as the coarse       
article is not readily assimilated by   
the soil4 ,there is little danger of    
using enough to injure the sward4       
,injury generally results from not using
 any4  ,many lawn-owners1 with a        
mistaken idea of neatness1 rake up the  
leaves that scatter themselves over the 
sward in fall1 thus removing the        
protection that ,nature has provided for
 the grass4 ,do not do this4 ,allow them
 to remain all winter4 ,they will be    
entirely hidden by the snow1 if any     
falls1 and if there is none they are not
 unsightly1 when you cease to think of  
them as litter4 ,you will appreciate the
 difference between a fall-raked lawn   
and one on which leaves have been       
allowed to remain over winter1 when     
spring comes4 ,the lawn without         
protection will have a brown1 scorched  
look1 while the other will begin to show
 varying tints of green as soon as the  

snow melts4 ,grass is hardy1 and        
requires no protection to prevent       
winter-killing1 but a covering1 though  
slight1 saves enough of its vitality to 
make it well worth while to provide it4 
,the ideal lawn is one in which no weeds
 are found4 ,but ,i have never seen such
 a lawn1 and never expect to4 ,it is    
possible to keep weeds from showing much
 if one has a thick1 fine sward1 but    
keen eyes will discover them without    
much trouble4 ,regular and careful      
mowings will keep them within bounds1   
and when the leaves of large-foliaged   
plants like the ,burdock and ,thistle   
are not allowed to develop they do not  
do a great deal of harm except in the   
drain they make upon the soil4          
,generally1 after repeated              
discouragements of their efforts to     
assert themselves1 they pine away and   
finally disappear4 ,but there will be   
others always coming to take their      
places1 especially in the country1 and  
their kindred growing in the pastures   

and by the roadside will ripen seed each
 season to be scattered broadcast by the
 wind4 ,this being the case1 the        
impossibility of entirely freeing a lawn
 from weeds by uprooting them or cutting
 them off will be readily apparent4 ,one
 would have to spend all his time in    
warfare against them1 on even a small   
lawn1 if he were to set out to keep them
 from growing there4 ,therefore about   
all one can do to prevent large weeds   
from becoming unsightly is to constantly
 curb their aspirations by mowing them  
down as soon as they reach a given      
height4  ,the ,dandelion and the        
,plantain are probably the worst pests  
of all1 because their seeds fill the air
 when they ripen1 and settle here1      
there1 and everywhere1 and wherever they
 come in contact with the ground they   
germinate1 and a colony of young plants 
establishes itself4 ,because the        
,burdock and ,thistle attempt to develop
 an up-reaching top it is an easy matter
 to keep them down by mowing1 but the   

,dandelion and ,plantain hug the soil so
 closely that the mower slips over them 
without coming in contact with their    
crowns1 and so they live on1 and on1 and
 spread by a multiplication of their    
roots until they often gain entire      
possession of the soil1 in spots4 ,when 
this happens1 the best thing to do is to
 spade up the patch1 and rake every     
weed-root out of it1 and then reseed it4
 ,if this is done early in spring the   
newly-seeded place will not be          
noticeable by midsummer4  ,we frequently
 see weed-killers advertised in the     
catalogues of the florist4 ,most1 if not
 all1 of them will do all that is       
claimed for them1 but--they will do just
 as deadly work on the grass1 if they   
get to it1 as they do on the weed1      
therefore they are of no practical use1 
as it is impossible to apply them to    
weeds without their coming in contact   
with the sward4  ,ants often do great   
damage to the lawn by burrowing under   
the sward and throwing up great hummocks

 of loose soil1 thus killing out large  
patches of grass where they come to the 
surface4 ,it is a somewhat difficult    
matter to dislodge them1 but it can     
sometimes be done by covering the places
 where they work with powdered borax to 
the depth of half an inch1 and then     
applying water to carry it down into the
 soil4 ,repeat the operation if         
necessary4 ,florists advertise liquids  
which are claimed to do this work       
effectively1 but ,i have had no occasion
 to test them1 as the borax application 
has never failed to rout the ant on my  
lawn1 and when ,i find a remedy that    
does its work well ,i depend upon it1   
rather than experiment with something of
 whose merits ,i know nothing4 ,prove   
all things and hold fast to that which  
is good4  ,fighting the ant is an easier
 matter than exterminating weeds1 as    
ant-hills are generally localized1 and  
it is possible to get at them without   
injuring a large amount of sward as one 
cannot help doing when he applies       

liquids to weeds4 ,the probabilities    
are1 however1 that ants cannot be       
entirely driven away from the lawn after
 they have taken possession of it4 ,they
 will shift their quarters and begin    
again elsewhere4 ,but you can keep them 
on the run by repeated applications of  
whatever proves obnoxious to them1 and  
in this way you can prevent their doing 
a great deal of harm4 ,to be successful 
in this you will have to be constantly  
on the lookout for them1 and so prompt  
in the use of the weapons you employ    
against them that they are prevented    
from becoming thoroughly established in 
new quarters4     ,,planting ,,the      
,,lawn   ,when the lawn is made we begin
 to puzzle over the planting of trees   
and shrubbery4  ,what shall we have8    
,where shall we have it8  ,one of the   
commonest mistakes made by the man who  
is his own gardener is that of          
over-planting the home-grounds with     
trees and shrubs4 ,this mistake is made 
because he does not look ahead and see1 

with the mind's eye1 what the result    
will be1 a few years from now1 of the   
work he does to-day4  ,illustration3    
,,ivy1 ,,climbing ,,roses1 ,,and        
,,colorado ,,blue ,,spruce  ,the sapling
 of to-day will in a short time become a
 tree of good size1 and the bush that   
seems hardly worth considering at       
present will develop into a shrub three1
 four1 perhaps six feet across4 ,if we  
plant closely1 as we are all inclined to
 because of the small size of the       
material we use at planting time1 we    
will soon have a thicket1 and it will be
 necessary to sacrifice most of the     
shrubs in order to give the few we leave
 sufficient room to develop in4         
,therefore do not think1 when you set   
out plants1 of their present size1 but  
of the size they will have attained to  
five or six years from now4 ,do not aim 
at immediate effect1 as most of us do in
 our impatience for results4 ,be content
 to plant--and wait4 ,i shall give no   
diagrams for lawn-planting for two      

reasons4 ,the first one is--no two      
places are exactly alike1 and a diagram 
prepared for one would have to be so    
modified in order to adapt it to the    
needs of the other that it would be of  
little value1 save in the way of        
suggestion1 and ,i think suggestions of 
a general character without the diagram 
will be found most satisfactory4 ,the   
second reason is--few persons would care
 to duplicate the grounds of his        
neighbor1 and this he would be obliged  
to do if diagrams were depended on4     
,therefore ,i advise each home-owner to 
plant his lawn after plans of his own   
preparation1 after having given careful 
consideration to the matter4 ,look about
 you4 ,visit the lawns your neighbors   
have made1 and discover wherein they    
have made mistakes4 ,note wherein they  
have been successful4 ,and then profit  
by their experience1 be it that of      
success or failure4  ,do not make the   
mistake of planting trees and shrubs in 
front of the house1 or between it and   

the street4 ,place them somewhere to the
 side1 or the rear1 and leave a clear1  
open sweep of lawn in front of the      
dwelling4 ,enough unbroken space should 
be left there to give the sense of      
breadth which will act as a division    
between the public and the private4     
,scatter shrubs and flower-beds over the
 lawn and you destroy that impression of
 distance which is given by even a small
 lawn when there is nothing on it to    
interfere with the vision1 as we look   
across it4  ,relegate shrubs to the     
sides of the lot1 if you can            
conveniently do so1 being careful to    
give the larger ones locations at the   
point farthest from the street1         
graduating them toward the front of the 
lot according to their habit of growth4 
,aim to secure a background by keeping  
the big fellows where they cannot       
interfere with the outlook of the little
 ones4  ,if paths are to be made1 think 
well before deciding where they shall   
be4 ,some persons prefer a straight path

 from the street to the house4 ,this    
saves steps1 but it gives the place a   
prim and formal look that is never      
pleasing4 ,it divides the yard into two 
sections of equal importance1 where it  
is advisable to have but one if we would
 make the most of things4 ,in other     
words1 it halves things1 thus weakening 
the general effect greatly4 ,a straight 
path is never a graceful one4 ,a curving
 path will make you a few more steps1   
but so much will be gained by it1 in    
beauty1 that ,i feel sure you will      
congratulate yourself on having chosen  
it1 after you have compared it with the 
straight path of your neighbor4 ,it will
 allow you to leave the greater share of
 the small lawn intact1 thus securing   
the impression of breadth that is so    
necessary to the best effect4           
,illustration3 ,a ,,bit ,,of ,,informal 
,,border  ,i have spoken of planting    
shrubs at the sides of the home-lot4 ,if
 this is done1 we secure a sort of frame
 for the home-picture that will be      

extremely pleasing4 ,if the shrubs near 
the street are small and low1 and those 
beyond them increase in breadth and     
height as they approach the rear of the 
lot1 with evergreens or trees as a      
background for the dwelling1 the effect 
will be delightful4 ,such a general plan
 of planting the home-grounds is easily 
carried out4 ,the most important feature
 of it to keep in mind is that of       
locating your plants in positions that  
will give each one a chance to display  
its charms to the best effect1 and this 
you can easily do if you read the       
catalogues and familiarize yourself with
 the heights and habits of them4  ,if   
your lot adjoins that of a neighbor who 
has not yet improved his home-grounds1  
,i would advise consulting with him1 and
 forming a partnership in               
improvement-work1 if possible4 ,if you  
proceed after a plan of your own on your
 side of the fence1 and he does the same
 on his side1 there may be a sad lack of
 harmony in the result4 ,but if you talk

 the matter over together the chances   
are that you can formulate a plan that  
will be entirely satisfactory to both   
parties1 and result in that harmony     
which is absolutely necessary to        
effective work4 ,because1 you see1 both 
will be working together toward a       
definite design1 while without such a   
partnership of interests each would be  
working independently1 and your ideas of
 the fitness of things might be sadly at
 variance with those of your neighbor4  
,never set your plants in rows4 ,nature 
never does that1 and she doesn't make   
any mistakes4 ,if you want an           
object-lesson in arrangement1 go into   
the fields and pastures1 and along the  
road1 and note how she has arranged the 
shrubs she has planted there4 ,here a   
group1 there a group1 in a manner that  
seems to have had no plan back of it1   
and yet ,i feel quite sure she planned  
out very carefully every one of these   
clumps and combinations4 ,the closer you
 study ,nature's methods and pattern    

after them the nearer you will come to  
success4  ,avoid formality as you would 
the plague if you want your garden to   
afford you all the pleasure you can get 
out of it4 ,nature's methods are always 
restful in effect because they are so   
simple and direct4 ,they never seem     
premeditated4 ,her plants just grow1    
like the ,topsy of ,mrs4 ,stowe's book1 
and no one seems to have given any      
thought to the matter4 ,but in order to 
successfully imitate ,nature it is      
absolutely necessary that we familiarize
 ourselves1 as ,i have said1 with her   
ways of doing things1 and we can only do
 this by studying from her books as she 
opens them for us in every field1 and by
 the roadside1 and the woodland nook4   
,the secret of success1 in a word1 lies 
in getting so close to the heart of     
,nature that she will take us into her  
confidence and tell us some of her      
secrets4  ,one of the best trees for the
 small lawn is the ,cut-,leaved ,birch4 
,it grows rapidly1 is always attractive1

 and does not outgrow the limit of the  
ordinary lot4 ,its habit is grace       
itself4 ,its white-barked trunk1        
slender1 pendant branches1 and          
finely-cut foliage never fail to        
challenge admiration4 ,in fall it takes 
on a coloring of pale gold1 and is more 
attractive than ever4 ,in winter its    
delicate branches show against a        
background of blue sky with all the     
delicacy and distinctness of an etching4
 ,no tree that ,i know of is hardier4   
,the ,mountain ,ash deserves a place on 
all lawns1 large or small4 ,its foliage 
is very attractive1 as are its great    
clusters of white flowers in spring4    
,when its fruit ripens1 the tree is as  
showy as anything can well be4 ,and1    
like the ,cut-,leaved ,birch1 it is     
ironclad in its hardiness4 ,it is an    
almost ideal tree for small places4     
,the ,japanese ,maples are beautiful    
trees1 of medium size1 very graceful in 
habit1 and rapid growers4 ,while not as 
desirable for a street tree as our      

native ,maple1 they will give better    
satisfaction on the lawn4  ,the         
,purple-,leaved ,beech is exceedingly   
showy1 and deserves a place on every    
lawn1 large or small4 ,in spring its    
foliage is a deep purple4 ,in summer it 
takes on a crimson tinge1 and in fall it
 colors up like bronze4 ,it branches    
close to the ground1 and should never be
 pruned to form a head several feet from
 the ground1 like most other trees4     
,such treatment will mar1 if not spoil1 
the attractiveness of it4  ,betchel's   
,crab1 which grows to be of medium size1
 is one of the loveliest things         
imaginable when in bloom4 ,its flowers1 
which are double1 are of a delicate     
pink1 with a most delicious fragrance4  
,the ,white-,flowering ,dogwood 7,cornus
 florida7 will give excellent results   
wherever planted4 ,its white blossoms   
are produced in great abundance early in
 spring--before its leaves are out1 in  
fact--and last for a long time4 ,its    
foliage is a gray-green1 glossy and     

handsome in summer1 and in fall a deep1 
rich red1 making it a wonderfully       
attractive object at that season4  ,the 
,judas ,tree 7,redbud7 never grows to be
 large4 ,its lovely pink blossoms appear
 in spring before its heart-shaped      
leaves are developed4 ,very desirable4  
,salisburia 7,maiden-,hair74 ,this is an
 elegant little tree from ,japan4 ,its  
foliage is almost fern-like in its      
delicacy4 ,it is a free grower1 and in  
every respect desirable4  ,among our    
larger trees that are well adapted to   
use about the house1 the ,elm is the    
most graceful4 ,it is the poet of the   
forest1 with its wide-spreading1        
drooping branches1 its beautiful        
foliage1 and grace in every aspect of   
its stately form4  ,as a street-tree the
 ,maple is unexcelled4 ,it is of rapid  
growth1 entirely hardy anywhere at the  
north1 requires very little attention in
 the way of pruning1 is never troubled  
by insects1 and has the merit of great  
cleanliness4 ,it is equally valuable for

 the lawn4 ,in fall1 it changes its     
summer-green for purest gold1 and is a  
thing of beauty until it loses its last 
leaf4  ,the ,laurel-,leaved ,willow is  
very desirable where quick results are  
wanted4 ,its branches frequently make a 
growth of five and six feet in a season4
 ,its leaves are shaped like those of   
the ,european ,laurel1--hence its       
specific name1--with a glossy1          
dark-green surface4 ,it is probably the 
most rapid grower of all desirable lawn 
trees4 ,planted along the roadside it   
will be found far more satisfactory than
 the ,lombardy ,poplar which is grown so
 extensively1 but which is never        
pleasing after the first few years of   
its life1 because of its habit of dying 
off at the top4  ,the ,box ,elder       
7,ash-,leaved ,maple7 is another tree of
 very rapid growth4 ,it has handsome    
light-green foliage1 and a head of      
spreading and irregular shape when left 
to its own devices1 but it can be made  
into quite a dignified tree with a      

little attention in the way of pruning4 
,i like it best1 however1 when allowed  
to train itself1 though this would not  
be satisfactory where the tree is       
planted along the street4 ,it will grow 
anywhere1 is hardy enough to stand the  
severest climate1 and is of such rapid  
development that the first thing you    
know the little sapling you set out is  
large enough to bear seed4  ,i like the 
idea of giving each home a background of
 evergreens4 ,this for two reasons--to  
bring out the distinctive features of   
the place more effectively than it is   
possible to without such a background1  
and to serve as a wind-break4 ,if       
planted at the rear of the house1 they  
answer an excellent purpose in shutting 
away the view of buildings that are     
seldom sightly4 ,the best variety for   
home-use1 all things considered1 is the 
,norway ,spruce4 ,this grows to be a    
stately tree of pyramidal habit1 perfect
 in form1 with heavy1 slightly pendulous
 branches from the ground up4 ,never    

touch it with the pruning-shears unless 
you want to spoil it4 ,the ,colorado    
,blue ,spruce is another excellent      
variety for general planting1 with rich1
 blue-green foliage4 ,it is a           
free-grower1 and perfectly hardy4 ,the  
,douglas ,spruce has foliage somewhat   
resembling that of the ,hemlock4 ,its   
habit of growth is that of a cone1 with 
light and graceful spreading branches   
that give it a much more open and airy  
effect than is found in other ,spruces4 
,the ,hemlock ,spruce is a most         
desirable variety for lawn use where a  
single specimen is wanted4 ,give it     
plenty of room in which to stretch out  
its slender1 graceful branches and ,i   
think it will please you more than any  
other evergreen you can select4  ,it    
must not be inferred that the list of   
trees of which mention has been made    
includes all that are desirable for     
planting about the home4 ,there are     
others of great merit1 and many might   
prefer them to the kinds ,i have spoken 

of4 ,i have made special mention of     
these because ,i know they will prove   
satisfactory under such conditions as   
ordinarily prevail about the home1      
therefore they are the kinds ,i would   
advise the amateur gardener to select in
 order to attain the highest degree of  
success4 ,give them good soil to grow   
in1 and they will ask very little from  
you in the way of attention4 ,they are  
trees that anybody can grow1 therefore  
trees for everybody4  ,in planting a    
tree care must be taken to get it as    
deep in the ground as it was before it  
was taken from the nursery4 ,if a little
 deeper no harm will be done4  ,make the
 hole in which it is to be planted so   
large that all its roots can be spread  
out evenly and naturally4  ,before      
putting it in place1 go over its roots  
and cut off the ends of all that were   
severed in taking it up4 ,use a sharp   
knife in doing this1 and make a clean1  
smooth cut4 ,a callus will form readily 
if this is done1 but not if the ends of 

the large roots are left in a ragged1   
mutilated condition4  ,illustration3    
,,shrubs ,,along ,,the ,,driveway  ,when
 the trees are received from the nursery
 they will be wrapped in moss and straw1
 with burlap about the roots4 ,do not   
unpack them until you are ready to plant
 them4 ,if you cannot do this as soon as
 they are received1 put them in the     
cellar or some other cool1 shady place1 
and pour a pailful of water over the    
wrapping about the roots4 ,never unpack 
them and leave their roots exposed to   
the air for any length of time4 ,if they
 must be unpacked before planting1 cover
 their roots with damp moss1 wet burlap1
 old carpet1 or blankets1--anything that
 will protect them from the air and from
 drying out4 ,but--get them into the    
ground as soon as possible4  ,when the  
tree is in the hole made for it1 cover  
the roots with fine soil1 and then      
settle this down among the roots by     
jarring the trunk1 or by churning the   
tree up and down carefully4 ,after doing

 this1 and securing a covering for all  
the roots1 apply a pailful or two of    
water to firm the soil well4 ,i find    
this more effective than firming the    
soil with the foot1 as it prevents the  
possibility of loose planting4  ,then   
fill the hole with soil1 and apply three
 or four inches of coarse manure from   
the barnyard to serve as a mulch4 ,this 
keeps the soil moist1 which is an       
important item1 especially if the season
 happens to be a dry one4 ,if barnyard  
manure is not obtainable1 use leaves1 or
 grass-clippings--anything that will    
shade the soil and retain moisture well4
  ,where shall we plant our trees8      
,this question is one that we often find
 it difficult to answer1 because we are 
not familiar enough with them to know   
much about the effect they will give    
after a few years' development4 ,before 
deciding on a location for them ,i would
 advise the home-maker to look about him
 until he finds places where the kinds  
he proposes to use are growing4 ,then   

study the effect that is given by them  
under conditions similar to those which 
prevail on your own grounds4 ,make a    
mental transfer of them to the place in 
which you intend to use them4 ,this you 
can do with the exercise of a little    
imagination4 ,when you see them growing 
on your own grounds1 as you can with the
 mind's eye1 you can tell pretty nearly 
where they ought to be planted4 ,you    
will get more benefit from              
object-lessons of this kind than from   
books4  ,on small grounds ,i would      
advise keeping them well to the sides of
 the house4 ,if any are planted in front
 of the house they will be more         
satisfactory if placed nearer the street
 than the house4 ,they should never be  
near enough to the dwelling to shade it4
 ,sunshine about the house is necessary 
to health as well as cheerfulness4      
,trees back of the dwelling are always  
pleasing4 ,under no circumstances plant 
them in prim rows1 or just so many feet 
apart4 ,this applies to all grounds1    

large or small1 immediately about the   
house4 ,but if the place is large enough
 to admit of a driveway1 a row of       
evergreens on each side of it can be    
made an attractive feature4  ,the reader
 will understand from what ,i have said 
that no hard-and-fast rules as to where 
to plant one's trees can be laid down1  
because of the wide difference of       
conditions under which the planting must
 be made4 ,each home-owner must decide  
this matter for himself1 but ,i would   
urge that no decision be made without   
first familiarizing yourself with the   
effect of whatever trees you select as  
you can see them growing on the grounds 
of your neighbors4  ,do not make the    
mistake of planting so thickly that a   
jungle will result after a few years4   
,in order to do itself justice1 each    
tree must have space enough about it1 on
 all sides1 to enable it to display its 
charms fully4 ,this no tree can do when 
crowded in among others4 ,one or two    
fine large trees with plenty of         

elbow-room about them will afford vastly
 more satisfaction than a dozen trees   
that dispute the space with each other4 
,here again is proof of what ,i have    
said many times in this book1 that      
quality is what pleases rather than     
quantity4  ,if any trees are planted in 
front of the house1 choose kinds having 
a high head1 so that there will be no   
obstruction of the outlook from the     
dwelling4     ,,shrubs   ,every yard    
ought to have its quota of shrubs4 ,they
 give to it a charm which nothing else  
in the plant-line can supply1 because   
they have a greater dignity than the    
perennial and the annual plant1 on      
account of size1 and the fact that they 
are good for many years1 with very      
little care1 recommends them to the     
home-maker who cannot give a great deal 
of attention to the garden and the      
home-grounds4 ,it hardly seems necessary
 to say anything about their beauty4    
,that is one of the things that goes    
without saying1 among those who see1    

each spring1 the glory of the ,lilacs   
and the ,spireas1 and other shrubs which
 find a place in everybody's garden4 ,on
 very small ground the larger-growing   
shrubs take the place of trees quite    
satisfactorily4 ,indeed1 they are       
preferable there1 because they are not  
likely to outgrow the limits assigned   
them1 as trees will in time1 and they do
 not make shade enough to bring about   
the unsanitary conditions which are     
almost always found to exist in small   
places where trees1 planted too thickly 
at first1 have made a strong            
development4 ,shade is a pleasing       
feature of a place in summer1 but there 
is such a thing as having too much of   
it4 ,we frequently see places in which  
the dwelling is almost entirely hidden  
by a thicket of trees1 and examination  
will be pretty sure to show that the    
house is damp1 and the occupants of it  
unhealthy4 ,look at the roof and you    
will be quite sure to find the shingles 
covered with green moss4 ,the only      

remedy for such a condition of things is
 the thinning out or removal of some of 
the trees1 and the admission of         
sunlight4 ,shrubs can never be charged  
with producing such a state of things1  
hence my preference for them on lots    
where there is not much room4 ,vines can
 be used upon the walls of the dwelling 
and about the verandas and porches in   
such a way as to give all the shade that
 is needed1 and1 with a few really fine 
specimens of shrubs scattered about the 
grounds1 trees will not be likely to be 
missed much4  ,i would not be understood
 as discouraging the planting of trees  
on grounds where there is ample space   
for their development4 ,a fine tree is  
one of the most beautiful things in the 
world1 but it must be given a good deal 
of room1 and that is just what cannot be
 done on the small city or village lot4 
,another argument in favor of shrubs    
is--they will be in their prime a few   
years after planting1 while a tree must 
have years to grow in4 ,and a shrub     

generally affords considerable pleasure 
from the start1 as it will bloom when   
very small4 ,many of them bloom the     
first season4  ,in locating shrubs do   
not make the mistake of putting them    
between the house and the street1 unless
 for the express purpose of shutting out
 something unsightly either of buildings
 or thoroughfare4 ,a small lawn loses   
its dignity when broken up by trees1    
shrubs1 or flower-beds4 ,left to itself 
it imparts a sense of breadth and       
distance which will make it seem larger 
than it really is4 ,plant things all    
over it and this effect is destroyed4 ,i
 have said this same thing in other     
chapters of this book1 and ,i repeat it 
with a desire to so impress the fact    
upon the mind of the home-maker that he 
cannot forget it1 and make the common   
mistake of locating his shrubbery or his
 flower-gardens in the front yard4  ,the
 best location for shrubs on small lots 
is that which ,i have advised for hardy 
plants--along the sides of the lot1 or  

at the rear of it1 far enough away from 
the dwelling1 if space will permit1 to  
serve as a background for it4 ,of course
 no hard-and-fast rule can be laid down1
 because lots differ so widely in size  
and shape1 and the houses we build on   
them are seldom found twice in the same 
place4 ,i am simply advising in a       
general way1 and the advice will have to
 be modified to suit the conditions     
which exist about each home4  ,do not   
set your shrubs out after any formal    
fashion--just so far apart1 and in      
straight rows--as so many do4 ,formality
 should be avoided whenever possible4   
,i think you will find the majority of  
them most satisfactory when grouped4    
,that is1 several of a kind--or at least
 of kinds that harmonize in general     
effect--planted so close together that1 
when well developed1 they form one large
 mass of branches and foliage4 ,i do not
 mean1 by this1 that they should be     
crowded4 ,give each one ample space to  
develop in1 but let them be near enough 

to touch1 after a little4  ,if it is    
proposed to use different kinds in      
groups1 one must make sure that he      
understand the habit of each1 or results
 will be likely to be most              
unsatisfactory4 ,the larger-growing     
kinds must be given the centre or the   
rear of the group1 with smaller kinds at
 the sides1 or in front4 ,the season of 
flowering and the peculiarities of      
branch and foliage should also be given 
due consideration4 ,if we were to plant 
a ,lilac with its stiff and rather      
formal habit among a lot of ,spireas1   
all slender grace and delicate foliage1 
the effect would be far from pleasing4  
,the two shrubs have nothing in common1 
except beauty1 and that is so dissimilar
 that it cannot be made to harmonize4   
,there must be a general harmony4 ,this 
does not mean that there may not be     
plenty of contrast4 ,contrast and       
harmony are not contradictory terms1 as 
some may think4  ,therefore read up in  
the catalogues about the shrubs you     

propose to make use of before you give  
them a permanent place in the yard4     
,also1 take a look ahead4  ,the plant   
you procure from the nursery will be    
small4 ,so small1 indeed1 that if you   
leave eight or ten feet between it and  
the next one you set out1 it will look  
so lonesome that it excites your pity1  
and you may be induced to plant another 
in the unfilled space to keep it        
company4 ,but in doing this you will be 
making a great mistake4 ,three or four  
years from now the bushes will have run 
together to such an extent that each    
plant has lost its individuality4 ,there
 will be a thicket of branches which    
will constantly interfere with each     
other's well being1 and prevent healthy 
development4 ,if you take the look ahead
 which ,i have advised1 you will        
anticipate the development of the shrub1
 and plant for the future rather than   
the immediate present4 ,be content to   
let the grounds look rather naked for a 
time4 ,three or four years will remedy  

that defect4 ,you can plant perennials  
and annuals between them1 temporarily1  
if you want the space filled4 ,it will  
be understood that what has been said in
 this paragraph applies to different    
kinds of shrubs set as single specimens1
 and not to those planted on the        
grouping system4  ,in planting shrubs1  
the rule given for trees applies quite  
fully4 ,have the hole for them large    
enough to admit of spreading out their  
roots naturally4 ,you can tell about    
this by setting the shrub down upon the 
ground after unwrapping it1 and watching
 the way in which it disposes of its    
roots4 ,they will spread out on all     
sides as they did before the plant was  
taken from the ground4 ,this is what    
they should be allowed to do in their   
new quarters4 ,many persons dig what    
resembles a post-hole more than anything
 else1 and crowd the roots of the shrub 
into it1 without making any effort to   
loosen or straighten them out1 dump in  
some lumpy soil1 trample it down        

roughly1 and call the work done4 ,done  
it is1 after a fashion1 but those who   
love the plants they set out--those who 
want fine shrubs and expect them to grow
 well from the beginning--never plant in
 that way4 ,spread the roots out on all 
sides1 cover them with fine1 mellow     
soil1 settle this into compactness with 
a liberal application of water1 then    
fill up the hole1 and cover the surface 
with a mulch of some kind4 ,treated in  
this way not one shrub in a hundred will
 fail to grow1 if it has good roots4    
,what was said about cutting off the    
ends on injured roots1 in the chapter on
 planting trees1 applies with equal     
pertinence here4 ,also1 about keeping   
the roots covered until you are ready to
 put the plant into the ground4 ,a shrub
 is a tree on a small scale1 and should 
receive the same kind of treatment so   
far as planting goes4 ,these            
instructions may seem trifling1 but they
 are really matters of great importance1
 as every amateur will find after a     

little experience4 ,a large measure of  
one's success depends on how closely we 
follow out the little hints and         
suggestions along these lines in the    
cultivation of all kinds of plants4     
,among our best large shrubs1 suitable  
for planting at the rear of the lot1 or 
in the back row of a group1 is the      
,lilac4 ,the leading varieties will grow
 to a height of ten or twelve feet1 and 
can be made to take on bush form if     
desired1 or can be trained as a small   
tree4 ,if the bush form is preferred1   
cut off the top of the plant1 when      
small1 and allow several branches to    
start from its base4 ,if you prefer a   
tree1 keep the plant to one straight    
stem until it reaches the height where  
you want the head to form4 ,then cut off
 its top4 ,branches will start below4   
,leave only those near the top of the   
stem4 ,these will develop and form the  
head you want4 ,i consider the ,lilac   
one of our very best shrubs1 because of 
its entire hardiness1 its rapid         

development1 its early flowering habit1 
its beauty1 its fragrance1 and the      
little attention needed by it4 ,keep the
 soil about it rich1 and mow off the    
suckers that will spring up about the   
parent plant in great numbers each      
season1 and it will ask no more of you4 
,the chief objection urged against it is
 its tendency to sucker so freely4 ,if  
let alone1 it will soon become a        
nuisance1 but with a little attention   
this disagreeable habit can be overcome4
 ,i keep the ground about my plants free
 from suckers by the use of the         
lawn-mower4 ,they can be cut as easily  
as grass when young and small4          
,illustration3 ,,snowball  ,if there is 
a more beautiful shrub than the white   
,lilac ,i do not know what it is4 ,for  
cut-flower work it is as desirable as   
the ,lily of the ,valley1 which is the  
only flower ,i can compare it with in   
delicate beauty1 purity1 and sweetness4 
,the ,persian is very pleasing for front
 positions1 because of its compact1     

spreading habit1 and its slender1       
graceful manner of branching close to   
the ground4 ,it is a very free bloomer1 
and a bush five or six feet high1 and as
 many feet across1 will often have      
hundreds of plume-like tufts of bloom1  
of a dark purple showing a decided      
violet tint4  ,the double varieties are 
lovely beyond description4 ,at a little 
distance the difference between the     
doubles and singles will not be very    
noticeable1 but at close range the      
beauty of the former will be apparent4  
,their extra petals give them an airy   
grace1 a feathery lightness1 which the  
shorter-spiked kinds do not have4 ,by   
all means have a rosy-purple double     
variety1 and a double white4 ,no garden 
that lives up to its privileges will be 
without them4 ,if ,i could have but one 
shrub1 ,i think my choice would be a    
white ,lilac4  ,another shrub of tall   
and stately habit is the old ,snowball4 
,when well grown1 few shrubs can surpass
 it in beauty4 ,its great balls of bloom

 are composed of scores of individually 
small flowers1 and they are borne in    
such profusion that the branches often  
bend beneath their weight4 ,of late     
years there has been widespread         
complaint of failure with this plant1   
because of the attack of aphides4 ,these
 little green plant-lice locate         
themselves on the underside of the      
tender foliage1 before it is fully      
developed1 and cause it to curl in an   
unsightly way4 ,the harm is done by     
these pests sucking the juices from the 
leaf4 ,i have had no difficulty in      
preventing them from injuring my bushes 
since ,i began the use of the           
insecticide sold by the florists under  
the name of ,nicoticide4 ,if this is    
applied as directed on the can in which 
it is put up1 two or three applications 
will entirely rid the plant of the      
insects1 and they will not return after 
being driven away by anything as        
disagreeable to them as a nicotine      
extract4 ,great care must be taken to   

see that the application gets to the    
underside of the foliage where the pests
 will establish themselves4 ,this is a  
matter of the greatest importance1 for1 
in order to rout them1 it is absolutely 
necessary that you get the nicotine     
where they are4 ,simply sprinkling it   
over the bush will do very little good4 
,the ,spirea is one of the loveliest of 
all shrubs4 ,its flowers are exquisite  
in their daintiness1 and so freely      
produced that the bush is literally     
covered with them4 ,and the habit of the
 bush is grace itself1 and this without 
any attention whatever from you in the  
way of training4 ,in fact1 attempt to   
train a ,spirea and the chances are that
 you will spoil it4 ,let it do its own  
training1 and the result will be all    
that you or any one else could ask for4 
,there are several varieties1 as you    
will see when you consult the dealers'  
catalogues4 ,some are double1 some      
single1 some white1 some pink4 ,among   
the most desirable for general culture  

,i would name ,van ,houteii1 a veritable
 fountain of pure white blossoms in ,may
 and ,june1 ,prunifolia1 better known as
 ,bridal ,wreath1 with double white     
flowers1 ,billardi1 pink1 and ,fortunei1
 delicate1 bright rose-color4  ,the     
,spireas are excellent shrubs for       
grouping1 especially when the white and 
pink varieties are used together4 ,this 
shrub is very hardy1 and of the easiest 
culture1 and ,i can recommend it to the 
amateur1 feeling confident that it will 
never fail to please4  ,quite as popular
 as the ,spirea is the ,deutzia1        
throughout the middle section of the    
northern states4 ,farther north it is   
likely to winter-kill badly4 ,that is1  
many of its branches will be injured to 
such an extent that they will have to be
 cut away to within a foot or two of the
 ground1 thus interfering with a free   
production of flowers4 ,the blossoms of 
this shrub are of a tasselly bell-shape1
 produced thickly all along the slender 
branches1 in ,june4 ,candidissima is a  

double white1 very striking and         
desirable4 ,gracilis is the most        
daintily beautiful member of the family1
 all things considered4 ,discolor       
grandiflora is a variety with large     
double blossoms1 tinted with pink on the
 reverse of the petals4  ,the ,weigelia 
is a lovely shrub4 ,there are white1    
pink1 and carmine varieties4 ,the       
flowers1 which are trumpet-shaped1 are  
borne in spikes in which bloom and      
foliage are so delightfully mixed that  
the result is a spray of great beauty4  
,a strong plant will be a solid mass of 
color for weeks4  ,an excellent1        
low-growing1 early flowering shrub is   
,pyrus ,japonica1 better known as ,japan
 ,quince4 ,it is one of our earliest    
bloomers4 ,its flowers are of the most  
intense1 fiery scarlet4 ,this is one of 
our best plants for front rows in the   
shrubbery1 and is often used as a low   
hedge4  ,illustration3 ,,american ,,ivy 
,,and ,,geraniums  ,one of our loveliest
 little shrubs is ,daphne ,cneorum1     

oftener known as the ,garland ,flower4  
,its blossoms are borne in small        
clusters at the extremity of the stalks4
 ,they are a soft pink1 and very sweet4 
,the habit of the plant is low and      
spreading4 ,while this is not as showy  
as many of our shrubs1 it is one that   
will win your friendship1 because of its
 modest beauty1 and will keep a place in
 your garden indefinitely after it has  
once been given a place there4          
,berberis--the ,barberry of             
,grandmother's garden--is a most        
satisfactory shrub1 for several reasons3
 ,it is hardy everywhere4 ,the white1   
yellow1 and orange flowers of the       
different varieties are showy in spring2
 in fall the foliage colors finely2 and 
through the greater part of winter the  
scarlet1 blue and black berries are     
extremely pleasing4 ,thunbergii is a    
dwarf variety1 with yellow flowers1     
followed by vivid scarlet fruit4 ,in    
autumn1 the foliage changes to scarlet  
and gold1 and makes the bush as         

attractive as if covered with flowers4  
,this is an excellent variety for a low 
hedge4  ,exochorda grandiflora1 better  
known as ,pearl ,bush1 is one of the    
most distinctively ornamental shrubs in 
cultivation4 ,it grows to a height of   
seven to ten feet1 and can be pruned to 
almost any desirable shape4 ,the buds1  
which come early in the season1 look    
like pearls strung on fine green        
threads--hence the popular name of the  
plant--and these open into flowers of   
the purest white4 ,a fine shrub for the 
background of a border4  ,forsythia is a
 splendid old shrub growing to a height 
of eight to ten feet4 ,its flowers      
appear before its leaves are out1 and   
are of such a rich1 shining yellow that 
they light up the garden like a bonfire4
 ,the flowers are bell-shaped1 hence the
 popular name of the plant1 ,golden     
,bell4  ,hydrangea paniculata           
grandiflora is a very general favorite  
because of its great hardiness1         
profusion of flowers1 ease of           

cultivation1 and habit of late blooming4
 ,it is too well known to need          
description4  ,robinia hispida1         
sometimes called ,rose ,acacia1 is a    
native species of the ,locust4 ,it has  
long1 drooping1 very lovely clusters of 
pea-shaped flowers of a soft pink color4
 ,it will grow in the poorest soil and  
stand more neglect than any other shrub 
,i have knowledge of4 ,but because it   
can do this is no reason why it should  
be asked to do it4 ,give it good        
treatment and it will do so much better 
for you than it possibly can under      
neglect1 that it will seem like a new   
variety of an old plant4  ,the          
,flowering ,currant is a delightful     
shrub1 and one that anyone can grow1 and
 one that will flourish anywhere4 ,it is
 very pleasing in habit1 without any    
attention in the way of training4 ,its  
branches spread gracefully in all       
directions from the centre of the bush1 
and grow to a length of six or seven    
feet4 ,early in the season they are     

covered with bright yellow flowers of a 
spicy and delicious fragrance4 ,in fall 
the bush takes on a rich coloring of    
crimson and gold1 and is really much    
showier then than when in bloom1 in     
spring4  ,sambucus aurea--the ,golden   
,elder--is one of the showiest shrubs in
 cultivation1 and its showy feature is  
its foliage4 ,let alone1 it grows to be 
a very large bush1 but judicious pruning
 keeps it within bounds1 for small      
grounds4 ,it makes an excellent         
background for such brilliantly colored 
flowers as the ,dahlia1 ,salvia         
splendens1 or scarlet ,geraniums4 ,it   
deserves a place in all collections4    
,our native ,cut-,leaved ,elder is one  
of the most beautiful ornaments any     
place can have4 ,it bears enormous cymes
 of delicate1 lace-like1 fragrant       
flowers in ,june and ,july4 ,these are  
followed by purple berries1 which make  
the bush as attractive as when in bloom4
  ,the ,syringa1 or ,mock ,orange1 is   
one of our favorites4 ,it grows to a    

height of eight and ten feet and is     
therefore well adapted to places in the 
back row1 or in the rear of the garden4 
,its flowers1 which are borne in great  
profusion1 are a creamy white1 and very 
sweet-scented4  ,the double-flowered    
,plum is a most lovely shrub4 ,it blooms
 early in spring1 before its leaves are 
out4 ,its flowers are very double1 and  
of a delicate pink1 and are produced in 
such profusion that the entire plant    
seems under a pink cloud4  ,another     
early bloomer1 somewhat similar to the  
,plum1 is the ,flowering ,almond1 an old
 favorite4 ,this1 however1 is of slender
 habit1 and should be given a place in  
the front row4 ,its lovely              
pink-and-white flowers are borne all    
along the gracefully arching stalks1    
making them look like wreaths of bloom  
that ,nature had not finished by        
fastening them together in chaplet form4
  ,it is not to be understood that the  
list given above includes all the       
desirable varieties of shrubs suited to 

amateur culture4 ,it does1 however1     
include the cream of the list for       
general-purpose gardening4 ,there are   
many other kinds that are well worth a  
place in any garden1 but some of them   
are inclined to be rather too tender for
 use at the north1 without protection1  
and others require a treatment which    
they will not be likely to get from the 
amateur gardener1 therefore ,i would not
 advise the beginner in shrub-growing to
 undertake their culture4  ,many an     
amateur gardener labors under the       
impression that all shrubs must be given
 an annual pruning4 ,he doesn't know    
just how he got this impression1 but--he
 has it4 ,he looks his shrubs over1 and 
sees no actual necessity for the use of 
the knife1 but--pruning must be done1   
and he cuts here1 and there1 and        
everywhere1 without any definite aim in 
view1 simply because he feels that      
something of the kind is demanded of    
him4 ,this is where a great mistake is  
made4 ,so long as a shrub is healthy and

 pleasing in shape let it alone4 ,it is 
not necessary that it should present the
 same appearance from all points of     
view4 ,that would be to make it formal1 
prim--anything but graceful4 ,go into   
the fields and forests and take lessons 
from ,nature1 the one gardener who makes
 no mistakes4 ,her shrubs are seldom    
regular in outline1 but they are        
beautiful1 all the same1 and graceful1  
every one of them1 with a grace that is 
the result of informality and           
naturalness4 ,therefore never prune a   
shrub unless it really needs it1 and let
 the need be determined by something    
more than mere lack of uniformity in its
 development4 ,much of the charm of     
,nature's workmanship is the result of  
irregularity which never does violence  
to the laws of symmetry and grace4      
,study the wayside shrub until you      
discover the secret of it1 and apply the
 knowledge thus gained to the management
 of your home garden4  ,shrubs can be   
set in fall or spring4 ,some persons    

will tell you that spring planting is   
preferable1 and give you good reasons   
for their preference4 ,others will      
advance what seem to be equally good    
reasons for preferring to plant in fall4
 ,so far as my experience goes1 ,i see  
but little difference in results4  ,by  
planting in spring1 you get your shrub  
into the ground before it begins to     
grow4  ,by planting in fall1 you get it 
into the ground after it has completed  
its annual growth4  ,you will have to be
 governed by circumstances1 and do the  
best you can under them1 and you will   
find1 ,i feel quite sure1 that good     
results will come from planting at      
either season4  ,if you plant in spring1
 do not defer the work until after your 
plants have begun growing4 ,do it as    
soon as the frost is out of the ground4 
,if in fall1 do it as soon as possible  
after the plant has fully completed the 
growth of the season1 and ripened off1  
as we say4 ,in other words1 is in that  
dormant condition which follows the     

completion of its yearly work4 ,this    
will be shown by the falling of its     
leaves4  ,never starve a shrub while it 
is small and young1 under the impression
 that1 because it is small1 it doesn't  
make much difference how you use it4 ,it
 makes all the difference in the world4 
,much of its future usefulness depends  
on the treatment it receives at this    
period4 ,what you want to do is to give 
it a good start4 ,and after it gets well
 started1 keep it going steadily ahead4 
,allow no grass or weeds to grow close  
to it and force it to dispute with them 
for its share of nutriment in the soil  
about its roots4  ,it is a good plan to 
spread a bushel or more of coarse litter
 about each shrub in fall4 ,not because 
it needs protection in the sense that a 
tender plant needs it1 but because a    
mulch keeps the frost from working harm 
at its roots1 and saves to the plant    
that amount of vital force which it     
would be obliged to expend upon itself  
if it were left to take care of itself4 

,for it is true that even our hardiest  
plants suffer a good deal in the fight  
with cold1 though they may not seem to  
be much injured by it4 ,mulch some of   
them1 and leave some of them without a  
mulch1 and notice the difference between
 the two when spring comes4 ,if you do  
this1 ,i feel sure you will give all of 
them the mulch-treatment every season   
thereafter4     ,,vines   ,a home       
without vines is like a home without    
children--it lacks the very thing that  
ought to be there to make it most       
delightful and home-like4  ,a good      
vine--and we have many such--soon       
becomes like one of the family4 ,year   
after year it continues to develop1     
covering unsightly places with its      
beauty of leaf and bloom1 and hiding    
defects that can be hidden              
satisfactorily in no other way4 ,all of 
us have seen houses that were positively
 ugly in appearance before vines were   
planted about them1 that became pleasant
 and attractive as soon as the vines had

 a chance to show what they could do in 
the way of covering up ugliness4  ,there
 are few among our really good vines    
that will not continue to give          
satisfaction for an indefinite period if
 given a small amount of attention each 
season4 ,i can think of none that are   
not better when ten or twelve years old 
than they are two and three years after 
planting--healthier1 stronger1 like a   
person who has got his growth and       
arrived at that period when all the     
elements of manhood are fully developed4
 ,young vines may be as pleasing as old 
ones1 as far as they go1 but--the       
objection is that they do not go far    
enough4 ,the value of a vine depends    
largely on size1 and size depends       
largely on age4 ,during the early stage 
of a vine's existence it is making      
promise of future grace and beauty1 and 
we must give it plenty of time in which 
to make that promise good4 ,we must also
 give such care as will make it not only
 possible but easy to fulfil this       

promise to the fullest extent4  ,while  
many vines will live on indefinitely    
under neglect1 they cannot do themselves
 justice under such conditions1 as any  
one will find who plants one and leaves 
it to look out for itself4 ,but be kind 
to it1 show it that you care for it and 
have its welfare at heart1 and it will  
surprise and delight you with its       
rapidity of growth1 and the beauty it is
 capable of imparting to everything with
 which it comes in contact4 ,for it     
seems impossible for a vine to grow     
anywhere without making everything it   
touches beautiful4 ,it is possessor of  
the magic which transforms plain things 
into loveliness4  ,if ,i were obliged to
 choose between vines and shrubs--and ,i
 am very glad that ,i do not have to do 
so--,i am quite sure ,i would choose the
 former4 ,i can hardly explain how it   
is1 but we seem to get on more intimate 
terms with a vine than we do with a     
shrub4 ,probably it is because it grows 
so close to the dwelling1 as a general  

thing1 that we come to think of it as a 
part of the home4  ,vines planted close 
to the house walls often fail to do     
well1 because they do not have a good   
soil to spread their roots in4 ,the soil
 thrown out from the cellar1 or in      
making an excavation for the foundation 
walls1 is almost always hard1 and       
deficient in nutriment4 ,in order to    
make it fit for use a liberal amount of 
sand and loam ought to be added to it1  
and mixed with it so thoroughly that it 
becomes a practically new soil4 ,at the 
same time manure should be given in     
generous quantity4 ,if this is done1 a  
poor soil can be made over into one that
 will give most excellent results4 ,one 
application of manure1 however1 will not
 be sufficient4 ,in one season1 a       
strong1 healthy vine will use up all the
 elements of plant-growth1 and more     
should be supplied to meet the demands  
of the following year4 ,in other words1 
vines should be manured each season if  
they are expected to keep in good health

 and continue to develop4 ,if barnyard  
manure cannot be obtained1 use bonemeal 
of which ,i so often speak in this book4
 ,i consider it the best substitute for 
barnyard fertilizer that ,i have ever   
used1 for all kinds of plants4  ,the    
best1 all-round vine for general use1   
allowing me to be judge1 is ,ampelopsis1
 better known throughout the country as 
,american ,ivy1 or ,virginia ,creeper4  
,it is of exceedingly rapid growth1     
often sending out branches twenty feet  
in length in a season1 after it has     
become well established4 ,it clings to  
stone1 wood1 or brick1 with equal       
facility1 and does not often require any
 support except such as it secures for  
itself4 ,there are two varieties4 ,one  
has flat1 sucker-like discs1 which hold 
themselves tightly against whatever     
surface they come in contact with1 on   
the principle of suction4 ,the other has
 tendrils which clasp themselves about  
anything they can grasp1 or force       
themselves into cracks and crevices in  

such a manner as to furnish all the     
support the vine needs4 ,so far as      
foliage and general habit goes1 there is
 not much difference between these two  
varieties1 but the variety with         
disc-supports colors up most beautifully
 in fall4 ,the foliage of both is very  
luxuriant4 ,when the green of summer    
gives way to the scarlet and maroon of  
autumn1 the entire plant seems to have  
changed its leaves for flowers1 so      
brilliant is its coloring4 ,there is but
 one objection to be urged against this 
plant1 and that is--its tendency to     
rampant growth4 ,let it have its way and
 it will cover windows as well as walls1
 and fling its festoons across doorway  
and porch4 ,this will have to be        
prevented by clipping away all branches 
that show an inclination to run riot1   
and take possession of places where no  
vines are needed4 ,when you discover a  
branch starting out in the wrong        
direction1 cut it off at once4 ,a little
 attention of this kind during the      

growing period will save the trouble of 
a general pruning later on4  ,vines1    
like children1 should be trained while  
growing if you would have them afford   
satisfaction when grown4  ,the          
,ampelopsis will climb to the roof of a 
two-story house in a short time1 and    
throw out its branches freely as it     
makes its upward growth1 and this       
without any training or pruning4        
,because of its ability to take care of 
itself in these respects1 as well as    
because of its great beauty1 ,i do not  
hesitate to call it the best of all     
vines for general use4 ,it will grow in 
all soils except clear sand1 it is as   
hardy as it is possible for a vine to   
be1 and so far as my experience with it 
goes--and ,i have grown it for the last 
twenty years--it has no diseases4       
,illustration3 ,,honeysuckle  ,for      
verandas and porches the ,honeysuckles  
will probably afford better satisfaction
 because of their less rampant habit4   
,also because of the beauty and the     

fragrance of their flowers4 ,many       
varieties are all-summer bloomers4 ,the 
best of these are ,scarlet ,trumpet and 
,halleana4 ,the vines can be trained    
over trellises1 or large-meshed wire    
netting1 or tacked to posts1 as suits   
the taste of the owner4 ,in whatever    
manner you train them they lend grace   
and beauty to a porch without shutting  
off the outlook wholly1 as their foliage
 is less plentiful than that of most    
vines4 ,this vine is of rapid           
development1 and so hardy that it       
requires very little attention in the   
way of protection in winter4 ,the       
variety called ,scarlet ,trumpet has    
scarlet and orange flowers4 ,halleana   
has almost evergreen foliage and        
cream-white flowers of most delightful  
fragrance4 ,both can be trained up      
together with very pleasing effect4     
,there are other good sorts1 but ,i     
consider that these two combine all the 
best features of the entire list1       
therefore ,i would advise the amateur   

gardener to concentrate his attention on
 them instead of spreading it out over  
inferior kinds4  ,every lover of flowers
 who sees the hybrid varieties of       
,clematis in bloom is sure to want to   
grow them4 ,they are very beautiful1 it 
is true1 and few plants are more        
satisfactory when well grown4           
,but--there's the rub--to grow them     
well4  ,the variety known as ,jackmani1 
with dark purple-blue flowers1 is most  
likely to succeed under amateur culture1
 but of late years it has been quite    
unsatisfactory4 ,plants of it grow well 
during the early part of the season1 but
 all at once blight strikes them1 and   
they wither in a day1 as if something   
had attacked the root1 and in a short   
time they are dead4 ,this has           
discouraged the would-be growers of the 
large-flowered varieties--for all of    
them seem to be subject to the same     
disease4 ,what this disease is no one   
seems able to say1 and1 so far1 no      
remedy for it has been advanced4  ,but  

in ,clematis paniculata1 we have a      
variety that ,i consider superior in    
every respect to the large-flowered     
kinds1 and to date no one has reported  
any trouble with it4 ,it is of strong   
and healthy growth1 and rampant in its  
habit1 thus making it useful where the  
large-flowered kinds have proved        
defective1 as none of them are of what  
may be called free growth4 ,they grow to
 a height of seven or eight             
feet--sometimes ten1--but have few      
branches1 and sparse foliage4           
,paniculata1 on the contrary1 makes a   
very vigorous growth--often twenty feet 
in a season--and its foliage1 unlike    
that of the other varieties1 is         
attractive enough in itself to make the 
plant well worth growing4 ,it is a rich1
 glossy green1 and so freely produced   
that it furnishes a dense shade4 ,late  
in the season1 after most other plants  
are in the sere and yellow leaf it is   
literally covered with great panicles of
 starry white flowers which have a      

delightful fragrance4 ,while this       
variety lacks the rich color of such    
varieties as ,jackmani and others of the
 hybrid class1 it is really far more    
beautiful4 ,indeed1 ,i know of no       
flowering vine that can equal it in this
 respect4 ,its late-flowering habit adds
 greatly to its value4 ,it is not only  
healthy1 but hardy--a quality no one can
 afford to overlook when planting vines 
about the house4 ,like ,clematis        
flammula1 a summer-blooming relative of 
great value both for its beauty and     
because it is a native1 it is likely to 
die pretty nearly to the ground in      
winter1 but1 because of rapid growth1   
this is not much of an objection4 ,by   
the time the flowers of either variety  
are likely to come in for a fair share  
of appreciation1 the vines will have    
grown to good size4  ,for the middle and
 southern sections of the northern      
states the ,wistaria is a most desirable
 vine1 but at the north it cannot be    
depended on to survive the winter in a  

condition that will enable it to give a 
satisfactory crop of flowers4 ,its roots
 will live1 but most of its branches    
will be killed each season4  ,ampelopsis
 ,veitchii1 more commonly known as      
,boston or ,japan ,ivy1 is a charming   
vine to train over brick and stone walls
 in localities where it is hardy1       
because of its dense habit of growth4   
,its foliage is smaller than that of the
 native ,ampelopsis1 and it is far less 
rampant in growth1 though a free grower4
 ,it will completely cover the walls of 
a building with its dark green foliage1 
every shoot clinging so closely that a  
person seeing the plant for the first   
time would get the idea that it had been
 shorn of all its branches except those 
adhering to the wall4 ,all its branches 
attach themselves to the wall-surface1  
thus giving an even1 uniform effect     
quite unlike that of other vines which  
throw out branches in all directions1   
regardless of wall or trellis4 ,in      
autumn this variety takes on a rich     

coloring that must be seen to be fully  
appreciated4  ,illustration3 ,,japan    
,,ivy ,,growing ,,on ,,wall  ,our native
 ,celastrus1 popularly known as         
,bittersweet1 is a very desirable vine  
if it can be given something to twine   
itself about4 ,it has neither tendril   
nor disc1 and supports itself by        
twisting its new growth about trees over
 which it clambers1 branches--anything  
that it can wind about4 ,if no other    
support is to be found it will twist    
about itself in such a manner as to form
 a great rope of branches4 ,it has      
attractive foliage1 but the chief beauty
 of the vine is its clusters of pendant 
fruit1 which hang to the plant well into
 winter4 ,this fruit is a berry of      
bright crimson1 enclosed in an orange   
shell which cracks open1 in three       
pieces1 and becomes reflexed1 thus      
disclosing the berry within4 ,as these  
berries grow in clusters of good size1  
and are very freely produced1 the effect
 of a large plant can be imagined4 ,in  

fall the foliage turns to a pure gold1  
and forms a most pleasing background for
 the scarlet and orange clusters to     
display themselves against4 ,the plant  
is of extremely rapid growth4 ,it has a 
habit of spreading rapidly1 and widely1 
by sending out underground shoots which 
come to the surface many feet away from 
the parent plant4 ,these must be kept   
mowed down or they will become a        
nuisance4  ,flower-loving people are    
often impatient of results1 and ,i am   
often asked what annual ,i would advise 
one to make use of1 for immediate       
effect1 or while the hardy vines are    
getting a start4 ,i know of nothing     
better1 all things considered1 than the 
,morning ,glory1 of which mention will  
be found elsewhere4  ,the ,flowering    
,bean is a pretty vine for training up  
about verandas1 but does not grow to a  
sufficient height to make it of much    
value elsewhere4 ,it is fine for        
covering low trellises or a fence4  ,the
 climbing ,nasturtiums are not really   

climbers4 ,rather plants with such long 
and slender branches that they must be  
given some support to keep them from    
straggling all over the ground4 ,they   
are very pleasing when used to cover    
fences1 low screens1 and trellises1 or  
when trained along the railing of the   
veranda4  ,the ,kudzu ,vine is of       
wonderful rapidity of growth1 and will  
be found a good substitute for a hardy  
vine about piazzas and porches4         
,aristolochia1 or ,dutchman's ,pipe1 is 
a hardy vine of more than ordinary      
merit4 ,it has large1 overlapping leaves
 that furnish a dense shade1 and very   
peculiar flowers--more peculiar1 in     
fact1 than beautiful4  ,bignonia will   
give satisfaction south of ,chicago1 in 
most localities4 ,where it stands the   
winter it is a favorite on account of   
its great profusion of orange-scarlet   
flowers and its pretty1 finely-cut      
foliage4 ,farther north it will live on 
indefinitely1 like the ,wistaria1 but   
its branches will nearly always be badly

 killed in winter4  ,it is a mistake to 
make use of strips of cloth in fastening
 vines to walls1 as so many are in the  
habit of doing1 because the cloth will  
soon rot1 and when a strong wind comes  
along1 or after a heavy rain1 the vines 
will be torn from their places1 and     
generally it will be found impossible to
 replace them satisfactorily4 ,cloth and
 twine may answer well enough for annual
 vines1 with the exception of the       
,morning ,glory1 but vines of heavy     
growth should be fastened with strips of
 leather passed about the main stalks   
and nailed to the wall securely4 ,do not
 use a small tack1 as the weight of the 
vines will often tear it loose from the 
wood4 ,do not make the leather so tight 
that it will interfere with the         
circulation of sap in the plant4 ,allow 
space for future growth4 ,some persons  
use iron staples1 but ,i would not      
advise them as they are sure to chafe   
the branches they are used to support4  
,the question is often asked if vines   

are not harmful to the walls over which 
they are trained4 ,i have never found   
them so4 ,on the contrary1 ,i have found
 walls that had been covered with vines 
for years in a better state of          
preservation than walls on which no     
vines had ever been trained4 ,the       
explanation is a simple one3 ,the leaves
 of the vines act in the capacity of    
shingles1 and shed rain1 thus keeping it
 from getting to the walls of the       
building4  ,but ,i would not advise     
training vines over the roof1 unless it 
is constructed of slate or some material
 not injured by dampness1 because the   
moisture will get below the foliage1    
where the sun cannot get at it1 and     
long-continued dampness will soon bring 
on decay4  ,on account of the difficulty
 of getting at them1 vines are never    
pruned to any great extent1 but it would
 be for the betterment of them if they  
were gone over every year1 and all the  
oldest branches cut away1 or thinned out
 enough to admit of a free circulation  

of air4 ,if this were done1 the vine    
would be constantly renewing itself1 and
 most kinds would be good for a         
lifetime4 ,it really is not such a      
difficult undertaking as most people    
imagine1 for by the use of an ordinary  
ladder one can get at most parts of a   
building1 and reach such portions of the
 vines as need attention most4     ,,the
 ,,hardy ,,border   ,the most           
satisfactory garden of flowering plants 
for small places1 all things considered1
 is one composed of hardy herbaceous    
perennials and biennials4  ,this for    
several reasons3  #ast4--,once          
thoroughly established they are good for
 an indefinite period4  #b;d4--,it is   
not necessary to make garden annually1  
as is the case where annuals are        
depended on4  #c;d4--,they require less 
care than any other class of plants4    
#dth4--,requiring less care than other  
plants1 they are admirably adapted to   
the needs of those who can devote only a
 limited amount of time to gardening4   

#eth4--,they include some of the most   
beautiful plants we have4  #fth4--,by a 
judicious selection of kinds it is      
possible to have flowers from them from 
early in spring till late in fall4  ,i  
have no disposition to say disparaging  
things about the garden of annuals4     
,annuals are very desirable4 ,some of   
them are absolutely indispensable4 ,but 
they call for a great deal of labor4 ,it
 is hard work to spade the ground1 and  
make the beds1 and sow the seed1 and    
keep the weeds down4 ,this work must be 
done year after year4 ,but with hardy   
plants this is not the case4            
,considerable labor may be called for1  
the first year1 in preparing the ground 
and setting out the plants1 but the most
 of the work done among them1 after     
that1 can be done with the hoe1 and it  
will take so little time to do it that  
you will wonder how you ever came to    
think annuals the only plants for the   
flower-garden of busy people4 ,that this
 is what a great many persons think is  

true1 but it is because they have not   
had sufficient experience with hardy    
plants to fully understand their merits1
 and the small amount of care they      
require4 ,a season's experience will    
convince them of their mistake4         
,illustration3 ,,shrubs ,,and           
,,perennials ,,combined ,,in ,,border   
,in preparing the ground for the        
reception of these plants1 spade it up  
to the depth of a foot and a half1 at   
least1 and work into it a liberal amount
 of good manure1 or some commercial     
fertilizer that will take the place of  
manure from the barnyard or cow-stable4 
,most perennials and herbaceous plants  
will do fairly well in a soil of only   
moderate richness1 but they cannot do   
themselves justice in it4 ,they ought   
not to be expected to4 ,to secure the   
best results from them--and you ought to
 be satisfied with nothing less--feed   
them well4 ,give them a good start1 at  
the time of planting1 and keep them up  
to a high standard of vitality by       

liberal feeding1 and they will surprise 
and delight you with the profusion and  
beauty of their bloom4  ,perennials will
 not bloom till the second year from    
seed4 ,therefore1 if you want flowers   
from them the first season1 it will be  
necessary for you to purchase last      
season's seedlings from the florist4    
,in most neighborhoods one can secure   
enough material to stock the border from
 friends who have old plants that need  
to be divided1 or by exchanging         
varieties4  ,but if you want plants of  
any particular color1 or of a certain   
variety1 you will do well to give your  
order to a dealer4 ,in most gardens five
 or six years old the original varieties
 will either have died out or so        
deteriorated that the stock you obtain  
there will be inferior in many respects1
 therefore not at all satisfactory to   
one who is inclined to be satisfied with
 nothing but the best4 ,the best is what
 the dealer will send you if you        
patronize one who has established a     

reputation for honesty4  ,the impression
 prevails1 to a great extent1 that      
perennials bloom only for a very short  
time in the early part of the season4   
,this is a mistake4 ,if you select your 
plants with a view to the prolongation  
of the flowering period1 you can have   
flowers throughout the season from this 
class of plants4 ,of course not all of  
them will bloom at the same time4 ,i    
would not be understood as meaning that4
 ,but what ,i do mean is--that by       
choosing for a succession of bloom it is
 possible to secure kinds whose         
flowering periods will meet and overlap 
each other in such a manner that some of
 them will be in bloom most of the time4
 ,many kinds bloom long before the      
earliest annuals are ready to begin the 
work of the season4 ,others are in their
 prime at midsummer1 and later ones will
 give flowers until frost comes4 ,if you
 read up the catalogues and familiarize 
yourself with the habits of the plants  
which the dealer offers for sale1 you   

can make a selection that will keep the 
garden gay from ,may to ,november4  ,on 
the ordinary home-lot there is not much 
choice allowed as to the location of the
 border4 ,it must go to the sides of the
 lot if it starts in front of the house1
 or it may be located at the rear of the
 dwelling4 ,on most grounds it will1    
after a little1 occupy both of these    
positions1 for it will outgrow its early
 limitations in a few years4 ,you will  
be constantly adding to it1 and thus it 
comes about that the border that begins 
on each side of the lot will overflow to
 the rear4  ,i would never advise       
locating it in front of the dwelling4   
,leave the lawn unbroken there4 ,while  
there is not much opportunity for effect
 on small grounds1 a departure from     
straight lines can always be made1 and  
formality and primness be avoided to a  
considerable degree4 ,let the inner edge
 of the border curve1 as shown in the   
illustration accompanying this chapter1 
and the result will be a hundredfold    

more pleasing than it would be if it    
were a straight line4 ,curves are always
 graceful1 and indentations here and    
there enable you to secure new points of
 view that add vastly to the general    
effect4 ,they make the border seem      
larger than it really is because only a 
portion of it is seen at the same time1 
as would not be the case if it were made
 up of straight rows of plants1 with the
 same width throughout4  ,by planting   
low-growing kinds in front1 and backing 
them up with kinds of a taller growth1  
with the very tallest growers in the    
rear1 the effect of a bank of flowers   
and foliage can be secured4 ,this the   
illustration clearly shows4  ,shrubbery 
can be used in connection with          
perennials with most satisfactory       
results4 ,this1 as the reader will see1 
was done on the grounds from which the  
picture was taken4 ,here we have a      
combination which cannot fail to afford 
pleasure4 ,i would not advise any       
home-maker to confine his border to     

plants of one class4 ,use shrubs and    
perennials together1 and scatter annuals
 here and there1 and have bulbs all     
along the border's edge4  ,i want to    
call particular attention to one thing  
which the picture under consideration   
emphasizes very forcibly1 and that      
is--the unstudied informality of it4 ,it
 seems to have planned itself4 ,it is   
like one of ,nature's fence-corner bits 
of gardening4  ,for use in the          
background we have several most         
excellent plants4 ,the                  
,delphinium--,larkspur--grows to a      
height of seven or eight feet1 in rich  
soil1 sending up a score or more of     
stout stalks from each strong clump of  
roots4 ,two or three feet of the upper  
part of these stalks will be solid with 
a mass of flowers of the richest1 most  
intense blue imaginable4 ,i know of no  
other flower of so deep and striking a  
shade of this rather rare color in the  
garden4 ,in order to guard against      
injury from strong winds1 stout stakes  

should be set about each clump1 and     
wound with wire or substantial cord to  
prevent the flowering stalks from being 
broken down4 ,there is a white variety1 
,chinensis1 that is most effective when 
used in combination with the blue1 which
 you will find catalogued as ,delphinium
 formosum4 ,if several strong clumps are
 grouped together1 the effect will be   
magnificent when the plants are in full 
bloom4 ,by cutting away the old stalks  
as soon as they have developed all their
 flowers1 new ones can be coaxed to     
grow1 and under this treatment the      
plants can be kept in bloom for many    
weeks4  ,golden ,glow ,rudbeckia is     
quite as strong a grower as the         
,delphinium1 and a more prolific bloomer
 does not exist4 ,it will literally     
cover itself with flowers of the richest
 golden yellow1 resembling in shape and 
size those of the decorative type of    
,dahlia4 ,this plant is a very strong   
grower1 and so aggressive that it will  
dispute possession with any plant near  

it1 and on this account it should never 
be given a place where it can interfere 
with choice varieties4 ,let it have its 
own way and it will crowd out even the  
grass of the lawn4 ,its proper place is 
in the extreme background1 well to the  
rear1 where distance will lend          
enchantment to the view4 ,it must not be
 inferred from this that it is too      
coarse a flower to give a front place   
to4 ,it belongs to the rear simply      
because of its aggressive qualities1 and
 the intense effect of its strong1      
all-pervading color4 ,you do not want a 
flower in the front row that1 being     
given an inch1 will straightway insist  
upon taking an ell4 ,this the ,rudbeckia
 will do1 every time1 if not promptly   
checked4 ,it is an exceedingly valuable 
plant to cut from1 as its flowers last  
for days1 and light up a room like a    
great burst of strong sunshine4         
,hollyhocks must have a place in every  
border4 ,their stately habit1 profusion 
of bloom1 wonderful range and richness  

of color1 and long-continued flowering  
period make them indispensable and      
favorites everywhere4 ,they are most    
effective when grown in large masses or 
groups4 ,if they are prevented from     
ripening seed1 they will bloom          
throughout the greater part of the      
season4 ,the single varieties are of the
 tallest1 stateliest growth1 therefore  
admirably adapted to back rows in the   
border4 ,the double kinds work in well  
in front of them4 ,these are the        
showiest members of the family because  
their flowers are so thickly set along  
the stalk that a stronger color-effect  
is given1 but they are really no finer  
than the single sorts1 so far as general
 effect is concerned4 ,indeed1 ,i think 
,i prefer the single kinds because the  
rich and peculiar markings of the       
individual flower show to much better   
advantage in them than in the doubles1  
whose multiplicity of petals hides this 
very pleasing variegation4 ,but ,i would
 not care to go without either kind4    

,illustration3 ,,old-,,fashioned        
,,hollyhocks  ,coreopsis lanceolata is a
 very charming plant for front rows1    
especially if it can have a place where 
it is given the benefit of contrast with
 a white flower1 like the ,daisy4 ,in   
such a location its rich golden yellow  
comes out brilliantly1 and makes a most 
effective point of color in the border4 
,perennial ,phlox1 all things           
considered1 deserves a place very near  
to the head of the list of our very best
 hardy plants4 ,perhaps if a vote were  
taken1 it would be elected as leader of 
its class in point of merit4 ,it is so  
entirely hardy1 so sturdy and           
self-reliant1 so wonderfully            
floriferous1 and so rich and varied in  
color that it is almost an ideal plant  
for border-use4 ,it varies greatly in   
habit4 ,some varieties attain a height  
of five feet or more4 ,others are low   
growers1--almost dwarfs1 in             
fact1--therefore well adapted to places 
in the very front row1 and close to the 

path4 ,the majority are of medium habit1
 fitting into the middle rows most      
effectively4 ,with a little care in the 
selection of varieties--depending on the
 florists' catalogues to give us the    
height of each--it is an easy matter to 
arrange the various sorts in such a way 
as to form a bank which will be an      
almost solid mass of flowers for weeks4 
,some varieties have flowers of the     
purest white1 and the colors of others  
range through many shades of pink1      
carmine1 scarlet1 and crimson1 to lilac1
 mauve1 and magenta4 ,the three colors  
last named must never be planted        
alongside or near to the other colors1  
with the exception of white1 as there   
can be no harmony between them4 ,they   
make a color-discord so intense as to be
 positively painful to the eye that has 
keen color-sense4 ,but combine them with
 the white kinds and they are among the 
loveliest of the lot4 ,this ,phlox ought
 always to be grouped1 to be most       
effective1 and white varieties should be

 used liberally to serve as a foil to   
the more brilliant colors and bring out 
their beauty most strikingly4           
,illustration3 ,,the ,,peony ,,at ,,its 
,,best  ,peonies are superb flowers1 and
 no border can afford to be without     
them4 ,the varieties are almost endless1
 but you cannot have too many of them4  
,use them everywhere4 ,the chances are  
that you will wish you had room for     
more4 ,they bloom early1 are magnificent
 in color and form1 and are so prolific 
that old plants often bear a hundred or 
more flowers each season1 and their     
profusion of bloom increases with age1  
as the plant gains in size4 ,many       
varieties are as fragrant as a ,rose1   
and all of them are as hardy as a plant 
can well be4 ,what more need be said in 
their favor8  ,in order to attain the   
highest degree of success with the      
,peony1 it should be given a rather     
heavy soil1 and manure should be used   
with great liberality4 ,in fact it is   
hardly possible to make the soil too    

rich to suit it4 ,disturb the roots as  
little as possible4 ,the plant is very  
sensitive to any treatment that affects 
the root1 and taking away a toe for a   
neighbor will often result in its       
failure to bloom next season4 ,keep the 
grass from crowding it4 ,year after year
 it will spread its branches farther and
 wider1 and there will be more of them1 
and its flowers will be larger and finer
 each season1 if the soil is kept rich4 
,i know of old clumps that have a spread
 of six feet or more1 sending up        
hundreds of stalks from matted roots    
that have not been disturbed for no one 
knows how long1 on which blossoms can be
 counted by the hundreds every spring4  
,dicentra1 better known as ,bleeding    
,heart1 because of its pendulous1       
heart-shaped flowers1 is a most lovely  
early bloomer4 ,it is an excellent plant
 for the front row of the border4 ,it   
sends up a great number of flowering    
stalks1 two and three feet in length1   
all curving gracefully outward from the 

crown of the plant4 ,these bear         
beautiful foliage--indeed1 the plant    
would be well worth growing for this    
alone--and each stalk is terminated with
 a raceme of pink and white blossoms4   
,it is difficult to imagine anything    
lovelier or more graceful than this     
plant1 when in full bloom4  ,the        
,aquilegia ought to be given a place in 
all collections4 ,it comes in blue1     
white1 yellow1 and red4 ,some varieties 
are single1 others double1 and all      
beautiful4 ,this is one of our early    
bloomers4 ,it should be grown in clumps1
 near the front row4  ,illustration3 ,a 
,,bit ,,of ,,the ,,border ,,of          
,,perennial ,,plants  ,the ,iris is to  
the garden what the ,orchid is to the   
greenhouse4 ,its colors are of the      
richest--blue1 purple1 violet1 yellow1  
white1 and gray4 ,it blooms in great    
profusion1 for weeks during the early   
part of summer4 ,it is a magnificent    
flower4 ,it will be found most effective
 when grouped1 but it can be scattered  

about the border in such a way as to    
produce charming results if one is      
careful to plant it among plants whose  
flowers harmonize with the different    
varieties in color4 ,color-harmony is as
 important in the hardy border as in any
 other part of the garden1 and no plant 
should be put out until you are sure of 
the effect it will produce upon other   
plants in its immediate neighborhood4   
,find the proper place for it before you
 give it a permanent location4 ,the     
term1 proper place1 has as much         
reference to color as to size4 ,a plant 
that introduces color-discord is as much
 out of place as is the plant whose size
 makes it a candidate for a position in 
the rear when it is given a place in the
 immediate foreground4  ,pyrethrum      
uliginosum is a wonderfully free        
bloomer1 growing to a height of three or
 four feet1 therefore well adapted to   
the middle rows of the border4 ,it      
blooms during the latter part of summer4
 ,it is often called the ,giant ,daisy1 

and the name is very appropriate1 as it 
is the common ,daisy1 to all intents and
 purposes1 on a large scale4  ,the small
 white ,daisy1 of lower growth1 is      
equally desirable for front-row         
locations4 ,it is a most excellent      
plant1 blooming early in the season1 and
 throughout the greater part of summer1 
and well into autumn if the old         
flower-stalks are cut away in           
,september1 to encourage new growth4 ,it
 is a stand-by for cut flowers for      
bouquet work4 ,because of its compact   
habit it is a very desirable plant for  
edging the border4  ,it is difficult to 
imagine anything more daintily charming 
than the herbaceous ,spireas4 ,alba1    
white1 and rosea1 soft pink1 produce    
large1 feathery tufts of bloom on stalks
 six and seven feet tall4 ,the flowers  
of these varieties are exceedingly      
graceful in an airy1 cloud-like way1 and
 never fail to attract the attention of 
those who pass ordinary plants by       
without seeing them4  ,the florists have

 taken our native ,asters in hand1 and  
we now have several varieties that make 
themselves perfectly at home in the     
border4 ,some of them grow to a height  
of eight feet4 ,others are low growers4 
,the rosy-violet kinds and the pale     
lavender-blues are indescribably lovely4
 ,nearly all of them bloom very late in 
the season4 ,their long branches will be
 a mass of flowers with fringy petals   
and a yellow centre4 ,these plants have 
captured the charm of the ,indian       
,summer and brought it into the garden1 
where they keep it prisoner during the  
last days of the season4 ,by all means  
give them a place in your collection4   
,and it will add to the effect if you   
plant alongside them a few clumps of    
their sturdy1 faithful old companion of 
the roadside and pasture1 the ,golden   
,rod4  ,it hardly seems necessary for me
 to give a detailed description of all  
the plants deserving a place in the     
border4 ,the list would be too long if  
,i were to attempt to do so4 ,you will  

find all the really desirable kinds     
quite fully described in the catalogues 
of the leading dealers in plants4       
,information as to color1 size1 and time
 of flowering is given there1 and you   
can select to suit your taste1 feeling  
confident that you will be well         
satisfied with the result4  ,just a few 
words of advice1 in conclusion3  ,don't 
crowd your plants4  ,allow for          
development4  ,don't try to have a      
little of everything4  ,don't overlook  
the old-fashioned kinds simply because  
they happen to be old4 ,that proves that
 they have merit4  ,keep the ground     
between them clean and open4  ,manure   
well each spring4  ,stir the soil       
occasionally during the season4         
,prevent the formation of seed4  ,once  
in three or four years divide the old   
clumps1 and discard all but the         
strongest1 healthiest portions of the   
roots4 ,reset in rich1 mellow soil4 ,do 
this while the plants are at a          
standstill1 early in spring1 or in fall1

 after the work of the season is over4  
,,the ,,garden ,,of ,,annuals   ,in     
preparing the garden for annuals1 the   
first thing to do is to spade up the    
soil4 ,this can be done shortly after   
the frost is out of the ground4 ,this is
 about all that can be done to          
advantage1 at this time1 as the ground  
must be allowed to remain as it comes   
from the spade until the combined effect
 of sun and air has put it into a       
condition that will make it an easy     
matter to reduce it to proper mellowness
 with the hoe or iron rake4  ,right here
 let me say3 ,most of us1 in the        
enthusiasm which takes possession of us 
when spring comes1 are inclined to rush 
matters4 ,we spade up the soil1 and     
immediately attempt to pulverize it1 and
 of course fail in the attempt1 because 
it is not in a proper condition to      
pulverize4 ,we may succeed in breaking  
it up into little clods1 but that is not
 what needs doing4 ,it must be made     
fine1 and mellow1--not a lump left in   

it1--and this can only be done well     
after the elements have had an          
opportunity to do their work on it4     
,when one comes to think about it1 there
 is no need of hurry1 for it is not safe
 to sow seed in the ground at the north 
until the weather becomes warm and      
settled1 and that will not be before the
 first of ,may1 in a very favorable     
season1 and generally not earlier than  
the middle of the month4 ,this being the
 case1 be content to leave the soil to  
the mellowing influences of the weather 
until seed-sowing time is at hand4 ,then
 go to work and get your garden ready4  
,if the soil is not rich1 apply manure  
from the barnyard or its substitute in  
the shape of some reliable fertilizer4  
,do this before you set about the       
pulverization of the soil4 ,then go to  
work with hoe and rake1 and reduce it to
 the last possible degree of fineness1  
working the fertilizer you make use of  
into it in such a manner that both are  
perfectly blended4  ,there is no danger 

of overdoing matters in this part of    
garden-work4 ,the finer the soil is the 
surer you may be of the germination of  
the seed you put into it4 ,fine seed    
often fails to grow in a coarse and     
lumpy soil4  ,in sowing seed1 make a    
distinction between the very fine and   
that of ordinary size4 ,fine seed should
 be scattered on the surface1 and no    
attempt made to cover it4 ,simply press 
down the soil upon which you have       
scattered it with a smooth board4 ,this 
will make it firm enough to retain the  
moisture required to bring about        
germination4  ,larger seed can be sown  
on the surface1 and afterward covered by
 sifting a slight covering of fine soil 
over it4 ,then press with the board to  
make it firm4  ,large seed1 like that of
 the ,sweet ,pea1 ,four-o'-,clock1 and  
,ricinus1 should be covered to the depth
 of half an inch4  ,i always advise     
sowing seed in the beds where the plants
 are to grow1 instead of starting it in 
pots and boxes1 in the house1 early in  

the season1 under the impression that by
 so doing you are going to get the start
 of the season4 ,in ninety-nine cases   
out of a hundred1 plants from seed sown 
in the house will be so weak in vital   
force that they cannot stand the change 
which comes when they are transplanted  
to the open ground4 ,in the majority of 
cases1 there will be none to transplant1
 for seedlings grown under living-room  
conditions generally die before the time
 comes when it is safe to put them out  
of doors4 ,should there be any to put   
out1 they will be so weak that plants   
from seed sown in the beds1 at that     
time1 will invariably get the start of  
them1 and these are sure to make the    
best plants4 ,a person must be an expert
 in order to make a success of          
plant-growing from seed1 in the house1  
in spring4 ,there will be too much heat1
 too little fresh air1 too great a lack 
of moisture in the atmosphere1 and often
 a lack of proper attention in the way  
of watering1 and unless these matters   

can be properly regulated it is useless 
to expect success4 ,knowing what the    
result is almost sure to be1 ,i         
discourage the amateur gardener from    
attempting to grow his own seedlings    
under these conditions4 ,if early plants
 are desired1 buy them of the florists  
whose facilities for growing them are   
such that they can send out strong and  
healthy stock4  ,do not sow the seeds of
 tender plants until you are quite sure 
that the danger from cold nights is     
over4 ,it is hardly safe to put any kind
 of seed into the ground before the     
middle of ,may1 at the north4  ,if we   
wait until all conditions are favorable1
 the young plants will get a good start 
and go steadily ahead1 and distance     
those from seed sown before the soil had
 become warm or the weather settled4    
,haste often makes waste4 ,if the soil  
is cold and damp seed often fails to    
germinate in it1 and this obliges you to
 buy more seed1 and all your labor goes 
for naught4  ,to the method and time of 

planting advised above1 there is one    
exception--that of the ,sweet ,pea4     
,this should go into the ground as soon 
as possible in spring4 ,for this reason3
 ,this plant likes to get a good        
root-growth before the warm weather of  
summer comes4 ,with such a growth it is 
ready for flowering early in the season1
 and no time is wasted4 ,dig a ,v-shaped
 trench six inches deep4 ,sow the seed  
thickly4 ,it ought not to be more than  
an inch apart1 and if closer no harm    
will be done4 ,cover to the depth of an 
inch1 at time of sowing1 tramping the   
soil down firmly4 ,when the young plants
 have grown to be two or three inches   
tall1 draw in more of the soil1 and keep
 on doing this from time to time1 as the
 seedlings reach up1 until all the soil 
from the trench has been returned to it4
 ,this method gives us plants with roots
 deep enough in the soil to make sure of
 sufficient moisture in a dry season4   
,it also insures coolness at the root1 a
 condition quite necessary to the       

successful culture of this favorite     
flower4  ,weeds will generally put in an
 appearance before the flowering plants 
do4 ,as soon as you can tell which is   
which the work of weeding must begin4   
,at this stage1 hand-pulling will have  
to be depended on4 ,but a little later1 
when the flowering plants have made an  
inch or two of growth1 weeding by hand  
should be abandoned4 ,provide yourself  
with a weeding-hook--a little tool with 
claw-shaped teeth--with which you can   
uproot more weeds in an hour than you   
can in all day by hand1 and the work    
will be done in a superior manner as the
 teeth of the little tool stir the      
surface of the soil just enough to keep 
it light and open--a condition that is  
highly favorable to the healthy         
development of young plants4 ,i have    
never yet seen a person who liked to    
pull weeds by hand4 ,gardens are often  
neglected because of the dislike of     
their owners for this disagreeable task4
 ,the use of the weeding-hook does away 

with the drudgery1 and makes really     
pleasant work of the fight with weeds4  
,if seedlings are to be transplanted1 do
 it after sundown or on a cloudy day4   
,lift the tender plants as carefully as 
possible1 and aim to not expose their   
delicate roots4 ,get the place in which 
you propose to plant them ready before  
you lift them1 and then set them out    
immediately4 ,make a hole as deep as    
their roots are long1 drop the plants   
into it1 and press the soil firmly about
 them with thumb and finger4 ,it may be 
well to water them if the season is a   
dry one4 ,shade them next day1 and      
continue to do so until they show that  
they have made new feeding roots by     
beginning to grow4 ,i make use of a     
shader that ,i have evolved from my     
inner consciousness that gives better   
satisfaction than anything else ,i have 
ever tried4 ,i cut thick brown paper    
into circular shape1 eight inches       
across4 ,then ,i cut out a quarter of   
it1 and bring the edges of this cut     

together1 and run a stick or wire       
through them to hold them together4     
,this stick or wire should be about ten 
inches long1 as the lower end of it must
 go into the soil4 ,when my shader is   
ready for use it has some resemblance to
 a paper umbrella with a handle at one  
side instead of in the middle4 ,this    
handle is inserted in the soil close to 
the plant1 and the umbrella shades it   
most effectively1 and does this without 
interfering with a free circulation of  
air1 which is a matter of great         
importance4  ,if thorough work in the   
way of weeding is done at the beginning 
of the season1 it will be an easy matter
 to keep the upper hand of the enemy    
later on4 ,but if you allow the weeds to
 get the start of you1 you will have to 
do some hard fighting to gain the       
supremacy which ought never to have been
 relinquished4 ,after a little1 the hoe 
can be used to advantage4 ,if the season
 happens to be a dry one1 do not allow  
the soil to become hard1 and caked on   

the surface1 under the impression that  
it will not be safe to stir it because  
of the drouth4 ,a soil that is kept     
light and open will absorb all the      
moisture there is in the air1 while one 
whose surface is crusted over cannot do 
this1 therefore plants growing in it    
suffer far more than those do in the    
soil that is stirred constantly4 ,aim to
 get all possible benefit from dews and 
slight showers by keeping the soil in   
such a sponge-like condition that it can
 take advantage of them4  ,it is a good 
plan to use the grass-clippings from the
 lawn as a mulch about your plants in   
hot1 dry weather4  ,do not begin to     
water plants in a dry season unless you 
can keep up the practice4 ,better let   
them take the chances of pulling through
 without the application than to give it
 for a short time and then abandon it   
because of the magnitude of the task4   
,furnish racks and trellises for such   
plants as need them as soon as they are 
needed4 ,many a good plant is spoiled by

 neglecting to give attention to its    
requirements at the proper time4  ,make 
it a rule to go over the garden at least
 twice a week1 after the flowering      
season sets in1 and cut away all faded  
flowers4 ,if this is done1 no seed will 
come to development1 and the strength of
 the plants will be expended in the     
production of other flowers4 ,by keeping
 up this practice through the season1 it
 is possible to keep most of them       
blossoming until late in the summer1 as 
they will endeavor to perpetuate        
themselves by the production of seed1   
and the first step in this process is   
the production of flowers4  ,what       
flowers would you advise us to grow8    
many readers of this chapter will be    
sure to ask1 after having read what ,i  
have said above about the garden of     
annuals4  ,in answering this question   
here1 it will be necessary1 in a        
measure1 to repeat what has been1 or    
will be1 said in other chapters1 where  
various phases of gardening are treated4

 ,but the question is one that should be
 answered in this connection1 at the    
risk of repetition1 in order to fully   
cover the subject now under             
consideration4  ,there are so many kinds
 of flowers offered by the seedsmen that
 it is a difficult matter to decide     
between them1 when all are so good4 ,but
 no one garden is large enough to       
contain them all4 ,were one to attempt  
the cultivation of all he would be      
obliged to put in all his time at the   
work1 and the services of an assistant  
would be needed1 besides4 ,even then the
 chances are that the work would be done
 in a superficial fashion4 ,therefore ,i
 shall mention only such kinds as ,i    
consider the very best of the lot for   
general use1 adding this advice3  ,don't
 attempt too much4 ,a few good kinds1   
well grown1 will afford a great deal    
more pleasure than a great many kinds   
only half grown4  ,this list is made up 
of such kinds as can properly be classed
 as stand-bys1 kinds which any amateur  

gardener can be reasonably sure of      
success with if the instructions given  
in this chapter are carefully followed4 
,alyssum4--,commonly called ,sweet      
,alyssum1 because of its pleasing       
fragrance4 ,of low growth4 ,very        
effective as an edging4 ,most profuse   
and constant bloomer4  ,aster4--,this   
annual disputes popularity with the     
,sweet ,pea4 ,very many persons would   
prefer it to any other because of its   
sturdy habit1 ease of culture1 profusion
 of bloom1 and great variety of color4  
,it is one of the indispensables4       
,antirrhinum 7,snapdragon74--,plant of  
profuse flowering habit4 ,flowers of    
peculiar shape1 mostly in rich colors4  
,very satisfactory for autumn4          
,illustration3 ,a ,,bed ,,of ,,asters   
,balsam4--,splendid plant for summer    
flowering1 coming in many colors1 some  
of these exceedingly delicate and       
beautiful4 ,flowers like small ,roses1  
very double1 and set so thickly along   
the stalks that each branch seems like a

 wreath of bloom4 ,it is often necessary
 to trim off many of the leaves in order
 to give the blossoms a chance to       
display themselves4 ,some varieties are 
charmingly variegated4 ,being quite     
tender it should not be sown until one  
is sure of warm weather4  ,calliopsis   
7,coreopsis74--,a very showy plant1 with
 rich yellow flowers1 marked with brown1
 maroon and scarlet at the base of the  
petal4 ,a most excellent plant where    
great masses of color are desired4 ,fine
 for combining with scarlet and other   
strong-toned flowers4 ,an all-the-season
 bloomer4  ,candytuft4--,a free and     
constant bloomer1 of low habit4 ,very   
useful for edging beds and borders4     
,comes in pure white and purplish red4  
,celosia 7,cockscomb74--,a plant with   
most peculiar flowers4 ,what we call the
 flower is really a collection of       
hundreds of tiny individual blossoms set
 so close together that they seem to    
compose one large blossom4 ,the         
prevailing color is a bright scarlet1   

but we have some varieties in pink and  
pale yellow4 ,sure to please4           
,cosmos4--,a plant of wonderfully free  
flowering habit4 ,flowers mostly pink1  
white1 and lilac4 ,a tall grower1       
branching freely1 therefore well adapted
 to back rows1 or massing4 ,foliage fine
 and feathery4 ,excellent for cutting4  
,one of our most desirable fall         
bloomers4 ,we have an early ,cosmos of  
rather dwarf habit1 but the             
large-growing late varieties are far    
more satisfactory4 ,it may be necessary 
to cover the plants at night when the   
frosts of middle and late ,september are
 due1 as they will be severely injured  
by even the slightest touch of frost4   
,well worth all the care required4      
,four-o'-,clock 7,marvel of             
,peru--,mirabilis74--,a good1           
old-fashioned flower that has the       
peculiarity of opening its              
trumpet-shaped blossoms late in the     
afternoon4 ,bushy1 well branched1 and   
adapted to border use as a filler4      

,escholtzia 7,california ,poppy74--,one 
of the showiest flowers in the entire   
list4 ,a bed of it will be a sheet of   
richest golden yellow for many weeks4   
,gaillardia 7,blanket-flower74--,a      
profuse and constant bloomer1 of rich   
and striking color-combinations4        
,yellow1 brown1 crimson1 and maroon4    
,most effective when massed4            
,gypsophila 7,baby's ,breath74--,a plant
 of great daintiness1 both in foliage   
and flowers4 ,always in demand for      
cut-flower work4 ,white and pink4       
,kochia 7,burning ,bush--,mexican       
,fire-plant74--,a very desirable plant1 
of symmetrical1 compact habit4 ,rich    
green throughout the summer1 but turning
 to dark red in fall4 ,fine for low     
hedges and for scattering through the   
border wherever there happens to be a   
vacancy4  ,larkspur4--,another          
old-fashioned flower of decided merit4  
,marigold4--,an old favorite that richly
 deserves a place in all gardens because
 of its rich colors1 free blooming      

qualities and ease of culture4          
,nasturtium4--,too well known to need   
description here4 ,everybody ought to   
grow it4 ,unsurpassed in garden         
decoration and equally as valuable for  
cutting4 ,blooms throughout the entire  
season4 ,does well in a rather poor     
soil4 ,in a very rich soil it makes a   
great growth of branches at the expense 
of blossoms4  ,pansy4--,not an annual1  
but generally treated as such4 ,a       
universal favorite that almost everybody
 grows4 ,if flowers of a particular     
color are desired ,i would advise buying
 blooming seedlings from the florist1 as
 one can never tell what he is going to 
get if he depends on seed of his own    
sowing4 ,the flowers will be as fine as 
those from selected varieties1 but there
 will be such a medley of colors that   
one sometimes tires of the effect4 ,i   
have always received the most pleasure  
from planting distinct colors1 like the 
yellows1 the blues1 the whites1 and the 
purples1 and the only way in which ,i   

can make sure of getting just the colors
 ,i want is to tell the florist about   
them1 and instruct him to send me those 
colors when his seedlings come into     
bloom4  ,petunia4--,another of the      
stand-bys4 ,a plant that can always be  
depended on4 ,very free bloomer1 very   
profuse1 and very showy4 ,if the old    
plants that have blossomed through the  
summer begin to look ragged and         
unsightly1 cut away the entire top4 ,in 
a short time new shoots will be sent out
 from the stump of the old plant1 and   
almost before you know it the plant will
 have renewed itself1 and be blooming as
 freely as when it was young4 ,fine for 
massing4  ,phlox ,drummondi4--,one of   
our most satisfactory annuals4 ,any one 
can grow it4 ,it begins to bloom when   
small1 and improves with age4 ,comes in 
a wide range of colors1 some brilliant1 
others delicate--all beautiful4         
,charming effects are easily secured by 
planting the pale rose1 pure white1 and 
soft yellow varieties together1 either  

in rows or circles4 ,the contrast will  
be fine1 and the harmony perfect4 ,other
 colors are desirable1 but they do not  
all combine well4 ,it is a good plan to 
use white varieties freely1 as these    
heighten the effect of the strong       
colors4 ,i always buy seed in which each
 color is by itself1 as a mixture of    
red1 crimson1 lilac1 and violet in the  
same bed is never pleasing to me4       
,poppy4--,brilliant and beautiful4      
,unrivalled for midsummer show4 ,as this
 plant is of little value after its     
early flowering period is over1 other   
annuals can be planted in the bed with  
it1 to take its place4 ,set these plants
 about the middle of ,july1 and when    
they begin to bloom pull up the         
,poppies4 ,the ,shirley strain includes 
some of the loveliest colors imaginable4
 ,its flowers have petals that seem cut 
from satin4 ,the large-flowered         
varieties are quite as ornamental as    
,peonies1 as long as they last4         
,portulacca4--,low grower1 spreading    

until the surface of the bed is covered 
with the dark green carpet of its       
peculiar foliage4 ,flowers both single  
and double1 of a great variety of       
colors4 ,does well in hot locations1 and
 in poor soil4 ,of the easiest culture4 
,scabiosa4--,very fine4 ,especially for 
cutting4 ,colors dark purple1 maroon1   
and white4  ,salpiglossis4--,a          
free-blooming plant1 of very brilliant  
coloring and striking variegation4      
,really freakish in its peculiar        
markings4  ,stock 7,gillyflower74--,a   
plant of great merit4 ,flowers of the   
double varieties are like miniature     
,roses1 in spikes4 ,very fragrant4 ,fine
 for cutting4 ,blooms until frost comes4
 ,red1 pink1 purple1 white1 and pale    
yellow4 ,the single varieties are not   
desirable1 and as soon as a seedling    
plant shows single flowers1 pull it up4 
,sweet ,pea4--,this grand flower needs  
no description4 ,it is one of the plants
 we must have4  ,verbena4--,old1 but    
none the worse for that4 ,a free and    

constant bloomer1 of rich and varied    
coloring4 ,habit low and spreading4 ,one
 of the best plants we have for low     
beds1 under the sitting-room windows4   
,keep the faded flowers cut off1 and at 
midsummer cut away most of the old      
branches1 and allow the plant to renew  
itself1 as advised in the case of the   
,petunia4  ,wallflower4--,not as much   
grown as it ought to be4 ,delightfully  
fragrant4 ,color rich brown and tawny   
yellow4 ,general habit similar to that  
of ,stock1 of which it is a near        
relative4 ,late bloomer4 ,give it one   
season's trial and you will be delighted
 with it4 ,not as showy as most flowers1
 but quite as beautiful1 and the peer of
 any of them in sweetness4  ,zinnia4--,a
 robust plant of the easiest possible   
culture4 ,any one can grow it1 and it   
will do well anywhere4 ,grows to a      
height of three feet or more1 branches  
freely1 and close to the ground1 and    
forms a dense1 compact bush4 ,on this   
account very useful for hedge purposes4 

,exceedingly profuse in its production  
of flowers4 ,blooms till frost comes4   
,comes in almost all the colors of the  
rainbow4  ,because ,i have advised the  
amateur gardener to make his selection  
from the above list1 it must not be     
understood that those of which ,i have  
not made mention1 but which will be     
found described in the catalogues of the
 florist1 are not desirable4 ,many of   
them might please the reader quite as   
well1 and possibly more1 than any of the
 kinds ,i have spoken of4 ,but most of  
them will require a treatment which the 
beginner in gardening will not be able  
to give them1 and1 on that account1 ,i  
do not include them in my list4 ,after a
 year or two's experience in gardening1 
the amateur will be justified in        
attempting their culture--which1 after  
all1 is not difficult if one has time to
 give them special attention and a      
sufficient amount of care4 ,the kinds ,i
 have advised are such as virtually take
 care of themselves1 after they get well

 under way1 if weeds are kept away from 
them4 ,they are the kinds for           
everybody's garden4  ,let me add1 in    
concluding this chapter1 that it is     
wisdom on the part of the amateur to    
select not more than a dozen of the     
kinds that appeal most forcibly to him1 
and concentrate his attention on them4  
,aim to grow them to perfection by      
giving them the best of care4 ,a garden 
of well-grown plants1 though limited in 
variety1 will afford a hundredfold more 
pleasure to the owner of it than a      
garden containing a little of           
everything1 and nothing well grown4  ,in
 purchasing seed1 patronize a dealer    
whose reputation for honesty and        
reliability is such that he would not   
dare to send out anything inferior if he
 were inclined to do so4 ,there are many
 firms that advertise the best of seed  
at very low prices4 ,look out for them4 
,i happen to know that our old and most 
reputable seedsmen make only a          
reasonable profit on the seed they sell4

 ,other dealers who cut under in price  
can only afford to do so because they do
 not exercise the care and attention    
which the reliable seedsman does in     
growing his stock1 hence their expenses 
are less4 ,cheap seed will be found     
cheap in all senses of the term4  ,i    
want to lay special emphasis on the     
advisability of purchasing seed in which
 each color is by itself4 ,the objection
 is often urged that one person seldom  
cares to use as many plants of one color
 as can be grown from a package of seed4
 ,this difficulty is easily disposed of4
 ,club with your neighbors1 and divide  
the seed between you when it comes4 ,in 
this way you will secure the most       
satisfactory results and pay no more for
 your seed than you would if you were to
 buy mixed packages4 ,grow colors       
separately for a season and ,i am quite 
sure you will never go back to mixed    
seed4     ,,the ,,bulb ,,garden   ,every
 lover of flowers should have a garden  
of bulbs1 for three reasons3 ,first1    

they bloom so early in the season that  
one can have flowers at least six weeks 
longer than it is possible to have them 
if only perennial and annual plants are 
depended on4 ,some bulbs come into bloom
 as soon as the snow is gone1 at the    
north1 to be followed by those of later 
habit1 and a constant succession of     
bloom can be secured by a judicious     
selection of varieties1 thus completely 
tiding over the usually flowerless      
period between the going of winter and  
the coming of the earlier spring        
flowers4 ,second1 they require but      
little care1 much less than the ordinary
 plant4 ,give them a good soil to grow  
in1 and keep weeds and grass from       
encroaching on them1 and they will ask  
no other attention from you1 except     
when1 because of a multiplication of    
bulbs1 they need to be separated and    
reset1 which will be about every third  
year4 ,the work required in doing this  
is no more than that involved in spading
 up a bed for annual flowers4 ,third1   

they are so hardy1 even at the extreme  
north1 that one can be sure of bloom    
from them if they are given a good      
covering in fall1 which is a very easy  
matter to do4  ,for richness and variety
 of color this class of plants stands   
unrivalled4 ,the bulb garden is more    
brilliant than the garden of annuals    
which succeeds it4  ,september is the   
proper month in which to make the bulb  
garden4  ,as a general thing1 persons   
fail to plant their bulbs until ,october
 and often ,november1 thinking the time 
of planting makes very little difference
 so long as they are put into the ground
 before winter sets in4 ,here is where a
 serious mistake is made4 ,early        
planting should always be the rule1--for
 this reason3 ,bulbs make their annual  
growth immediately after flowering1 and 
ripen off by midsummer4 ,after this1    
they remain dormant until fall1 when new
 root-growth takes place1 and the plant 
gets ready for the work that will be    
demanded of it as soon as spring opens4 

,it is made during the months of        
,october and ,november1 if cold weather 
does not set in earlier1 and should be  
fully completed before the ground       
freezes4 ,if incomplete--as is always   
the case when late planting is done--the
 plants are obliged to do--or attempt to
 do--double duty in spring4 ,that is1   
the completion of the work left undone  
in fall and the production of flowers   
must go on at the same time1 and this is
 asking too much of the plant4 ,it      
cannot produce fine1 perfect flowers    
with a poorly-developed root-system to  
supply the strength and nutriment needed
 for such a task1 therefore the plants  
are not in a condition to do themselves 
justice4 ,often late-planted bulbs fail 
to produce any flowers1 and1 in most    
instances1 the few flowers they do give 
are small and inferior in all respects4 
,with early-planted bulbs it is quite   
different1 because they had all the late
 fall-season to complete root-growth in1
 and when winter closed in it found them

 ready for the work of spring4          
,therefore1 do not neglect the making of
 your bulb garden until winter is at    
hand under the impression that if the   
bulbs are planted any time before snow  
comes1 all is well4 ,this is the worst  
mistake you could possibly make4  ,the  
catalogues of the bulb-dealers will be  
sent out about the first of ,september4 
,send in your order for the kinds you   
decide on planting at once1 and as soon 
as your order has gone1 set about       
preparing the place in which you propose
 to plant them4 ,have everything in     
readiness for them when they arrive1 and
 put them into the ground as soon after 
they are received as possible4  ,the    
soil in which bulbs should be planted   
cannot be too carefully prepared1 as    
much of one's success with these plants 
depends upon this most important item4  
,it must be rich1 and it must be fine   
and mellow4  ,the best soil in which to 
set bulbs is a sandy loam4  ,the best   
fertilizer is old1 thoroughly rotted    

cow-manure4 ,on no account should fresh 
manure be used4 ,make use1 if possible1 
of that which is black from             
decomposition1 and will crumble readily 
under the application of the hoe1 or    
iron rake4 ,one-third in bulk of this   
material is not too much4 ,bulbs are    
great eaters1 and unless they are well  
fed you cannot expect large crops of    
fine flowers from them4 ,and they must  
be well supplied with nutritious food   
each year1 because the crop of next     
season depends largely upon the         
nutriment stored up this season4  ,if   
barnyard manure is not obtainable1      
substitute bonemeal4 ,use the fine meal1
 in the proportion of a pound to each   
yard square of surface4 ,more1 if the   
soil happens to be a poor one4 ,if the  
soil is heavy with clay1 add sand enough
 to lighten it1 if possible4  ,the ideal
 location for bulbs is one that is      
naturally well drained1 and has a slope 
to the south4  ,unless drainage is good 
success cannot be expected1 as nothing  

injures a bulb more than water about its
 roots4 ,therefore1 if you do not have a
 place suitable for them so far as      
natural drainage is concerned1 see to it
 that artificial drainage supplies what 
is lacking4 ,spade up the bed to the    
depth of a foot and a half4 ,that       
is--throw the soil out of it to that    
depth1--and put into the bottom of the  
excavation at least four inches of      
material that will not decay readily1   
like broken brick1 pottery1 clinkers    
from the coal-stove1 coarse             
gravel--anything that will be permanent 
and allow water to run off through the  
cracks and crevices in it1 thus securing
 a system of drainage that will answer  
all purposes perfectly4 ,it is of the   
utmost importance that this should be   
done on all heavy soils4 ,unless the    
water from melting snows and early      
spring rains drains away from the bulbs 
readily you need not expect flowers from
 them4  ,after having arranged for      
drainage1 work over the soil thrown out 

of the bed until it is as fine and      
mellow as it can possibly be made4 ,mix 
whatever fertilizer you make use of with
 it1 when you do this1 that the two may 
be thoroughly incorporated4 ,then return
 it to the bed4 ,there will be more than
 enough to fill the bed1 because some   
space is given up to drainage material1 
but this will be an advantage because it
 will enable you to so round up the     
surface that water will run off before  
it has time to soak into the soil to    
much depth4  ,i do not think it         
advisable to say much about plans for   
bulb-beds1 because comparatively few    
persons seem inclined to follow         
instructions along this line4 ,the less 
formal a bed of this kind is the better 
satisfaction it will give1 as a general 
thing4 ,it is the flower that is in the 
bed that should be depended on to give  
pleasure rather than the shape of the   
bed containing it4  ,i would advise     
locating bulb-beds near the house where 
they can be easily seen from the        

living-room windows4 ,these beds can be 
utilized later on for annuals1 which can
 be sown or planted above the bulbs     
without interfering with them in any    
respect4  ,i would never advise mixing  
bulbs4 ,by that1 ,i mean1 planting      
,tulips1 ,hyacinths1 ,daffodils1 and    
other kinds in the same bed4 ,they will 
not harmonize in color or habit4 ,each  
kind will be found vastly more pleasing 
when kept by itself4  ,i would also     
advise keeping each color by itself1    
unless you are sure that harmony will   
result from a mixture or combination of 
colors4 ,pink and white1 blue and white1
 and red and white ,hyacinths look well 
when planted together1 but a jumble of  
pinks1 blues1 and reds is never as      
pleasing as the same colors would be    
separately1 or where each color is      
relieved by white4  ,the same rule      
applies to ,tulips1 with equal force4   
,we often see pleasing effects that have
 been secured by planting reds and blues
 in rows1 alternating with rows of      

white4 ,this method keeps the           
quarrelsome colors apart1 and affords   
sufficient contrast to heighten the     
general effect4 ,still1 there is a      
formality about it which is not entirely
 satisfactory to the person who believes
 that the flower is of first importance1
 and the shape of the bed1 or the       
arrangement of the flowers in the bed1  
is a matter of secondary consideration4 
,bulbs should be put into the ground as 
soon as possible after being taken from 
the package in which they are sent out  
by the florist4 ,if exposed to the light
 and air for any length of time they    
part rapidly with the moisture contained
 in their scales1 and that means a loss 
of vitality4 ,if it is not convenient to
 plant them at once1 leave them in the  
package1 or put them in some cool1 dark 
place until you are ready to use them4  
,as a rule ,hyacinths1 ,tulips1 and     
,narcissus should be planted about five 
inches deep1 and about six inches apart4
  ,the smaller bulbs should be put from 

three to four inches below the surface  
and about the same distance apart4  ,in 
planting1 make a hole with a blunt stick
 of the depth desired1 and drop the bulb
 into it4 ,then cover1 and press the    
soil down firmly4  ,just before the     
ground is likely to freeze1 cover the   
bed with a coarse litter from the       
barnyard1 if obtainable1 to a depth of  
eight or ten inches4 ,if this litter is 
not to be had1 hay or straw will answer 
very well1 if packed down somewhat4     
,leaves make an excellent covering if   
one can get enough of them4 ,if they are
 used1 four inches in depth of them will
 be sufficient4 ,put evergreen boughs or
 wire netting over them to prevent their
 being blown away4  ,i frequently       
receive letters from inexperienced      
bulb-growers1 in which the writers      
express considerable scepticism about   
the value of such a covering as ,i have 
advised above1 because1 they say1 it is 
not deep enough to keep out the frost1  
therefore it might as well be dispensed 

with4 ,keeping out the frost is not what
 is aimed at4 ,we expect the soil about 
the bulbs to freeze4 ,but such a        
covering as has been advised will       
prevent the sun from thawing out the    
frost after it gets into the soil1 and  
this is exactly what we desire4 ,for if 
the frost can be kept in1 after it has  
taken possession1 there will not be that
 frequent alternation between freezing  
and thawing which does the harm to the  
plant4 ,for it is not freezing1         
understand1 that is responsible for the 
mischief1 but the alternation of        
conditions4 ,these cause a rupture of   
plant-cells1 and that is what does the  
harm4 ,keep a comparatively tender plant
 frozen all winter and allow the frost  
to be drawn out of it gradually in      
spring1 and it will survive a season of 
unusual cold4 ,the same plant will be   
sure to die in a mild season if left    
exposed to the action of the elements1  
because of frequent and rapid changes   
between heat and cold4  ,whatever       

covering is given should be left on the 
beds as long as possible in spring1     
because of the severely cold weather we 
frequently have at the north after we   
think all danger is over4 ,however1 as  
soon as the plants begin to make much   
growth1 this covering will have to be   
removed4 ,if a cold night comes along   
after this has been done spread blankets
 or carpeting over the beds4 ,keep them 
from resting on the tender growth of the
 plants by driving pegs into the soil a 
short distance apart1 all over the bed4 
,the young plants may not be killed by  
quite a severe freeze1 but they will be 
injured by it1 and injury of any kind   
should be guarded against at this       
season1 if you want fine flowers4       
,illustration3 ,,bed ,,of ,,white       
,,hyacinths ,,bordered ,,with ,,pansies 
,holland ,hyacinths should receive first
 consideration1 because they are less   
likely to disappoint than any other     
hardy bulb4 ,there are single and double
 kinds1 both desirable4 ,personally ,i  

prefer the single sorts1 as they are    
less prim and formal than the double    
varieties1 whose flowers are so thickly 
set along the stalk that individuality  
of bloom is almost wholly lost sight of4
 ,they are1 in this respect1 like the   
double ,geraniums we use in summer      
bedding1 whose trusses of bloom resemble
 a ball of color more than anything     
else1 at a little distance1 the         
suggestion of individual bloom being so 
slight that it seldom receives          
consideration4 ,however1 they do good   
service where color-effects are         
considered of more importance than      
anything else4 ,single ,hyacinths have  
their flowers more loosely arranged     
along the stalk1 and are therefore more 
graceful than the double varieties1 and 
their colors are quite as fine4 ,these  
range from pure white through pale pink 
and rose1 red1 scarlet1 crimson1 blue   
and charming yellows to dark purple4    
,roman ,hyacinths are too tender for    
outdoor culture at the north4  ,there   

are several quite distinct varieties of 
the ,tulip4 ,there is an early sort1 a  
medium one1 a late one1 and the ,parrot1
 which is prized more for its striking  
combinations of brilliant colors than   
for its beauty of form or habit4 ,we    
have single and double varieties in all 
the classes1 all coming in a wide range 
of both rich and delicate colors4       
,scarlets1 crimsons1 and yellows        
predominate1 but the pure whites1 the   
pale rose-colors1 and the rich purples  
are general favorites4 ,some of the     
variegated varieties are exceedingly    
brilliant in their striking             
color-combinations4  ,the ,narcissus is 
one of the loveliest flowers we have4   
,it deserves a place very near1 if not  
quite at1 the head of the list of our   
best spring-blooming plants4 ,nothing   
can be richer in color than the large   
double sorts1 like ,horsfieldii1 and    
,empress1 with their petals of burnished
 gold4 ,there are many other varieties  
equally as fine1 but with a little      

difference in the way of color--just    
enough to make one want to have all of  
them4 ,the good old-fashioned ,daffodil 
is an honored member of the family that 
should be found in every garden4 ,when  
you see the ,dandelion's gleam of gold  
in the grass by the wayside you get a   
good idea of the brilliant display a    
fine collection of ,narcissus is capable
 of making1 for in richness of color    
these two flowers are almost identical4 
,among the smaller bulbs that deserve   
special mention are the ,crocus1 the    
,snow ,drop1 the ,scilla1 and the ,musk 
or ,grape ,hyacinth4 ,these should be   
planted in groups1 to be most effective1
 and set close together4 ,they must be  
used in large quantities to produce much
 of a show4 ,they are very cheap1 and a 
good-sized collection can be had for a  
small amount of money4  ,those who have 
a liking for special colors will do well
 to make their selections from the named
 varieties listed in the catalogues4    
,you can depend on getting just the     

color you want1 if you order in this    
way4 ,but in no other way4 ,mixed       
collection will give you some of all    
colors1 but there is no way of telling  
which is which until they come into     
bloom4  ,but in mixed collections you   
will get just as fine bulbs and just as 
fine colors as you will if you select   
from the list of named varieties4       
,only--you won't know what you are      
getting4 ,named sorts will cost         
considerable more than the mixtures4    
,,the ,,rose3 ,,its ,,general ,,care    
,,and ,,culture   ,the owner of every   
garden tries to grow roses in it1 but   
where one succeeds1 ten fail4 ,perhaps  
,i would be safe in saying that         
ninety-nine out of every hundred fail1  
for a few inferior blossoms from a      
plant1 each season1 do not constitute   
success1 but that is what the majority  
of amateur ,rose-growers have to be     
satisfied with1 the country over1 and so
 great is their admiration for this most
 beautiful of all flowers that these few

 blossoms encourage them to keep on1    
season after season1 hoping for better  
things1 and consoling themselves with   
the thought that1 though results fall   
short of expectation1 they are doing    
about as well as their neighbors in this
 particular phase of gardening4  ,one   
does not have to seek far for the causes
 of failure4 ,the ,rose1 while it is    
common everywhere1 and has been in      
cultivation for centuries1 is not       
understood by the rank and file of those
 who attempt to grow it1 therefore it is
 not given the treatment it deserves1   
and which it must have1 in order to     
achieve success in its culture4 ,when we
 come to know its requirements1 and give
 it proper care1 we can grow fine       
,roses1 but not till then4 ,those who   
form an opinion of the possibilities of 
the plant from the specimens which they 
see growing in the average garden have  
yet to find out what a really fine ,rose
 is4  ,the ,rose is the flower of       
romance and sentiment throughout the    

lands in which it grows1 but1 for all   
that1 it is not a sentimental flower in 
many respects4 ,it is a vegetable       
epicure4 ,it likes rich food1 and great 
quantities of it4 ,unless it can be     
gratified in this respect it will refuse
 to give you the large1 fine flowers    
which every ,rose-grower1 professional  
or amateur1 is constantly striving      
after4 ,but feed it according to its    
liking and it will give you perfect     
flowers in great quantities1 season     
after season1 and then you will         
understand what this plant can do when  
given an opportunity to do itself       
justice4  ,the ,rose will live on       
indefinitely in almost any soil1 and    
under almost any conditions4 ,i have    
frequently found it growing in old1     
deserted gardens1 almost choked out of  
existence by weeds and other aggressive 
plants1 but still holding to life with a
 persistency that seemed wonderful in a 
plant of its kind4 ,i have removed some 
of these plants to my own garden1 and   

given them good care1 and time after    
time ,i have been as surprised as       
delighted at the result4 ,the poor      
little bushes1 that had held so         
tenaciously to life against great odds1 
seemed to have stored up more vitality  
in their starved roots than any others  
in the garden were possessors of1 and as
 soon as they were given good soil and  
proper care they sent up strong1 rank   
shoots1 and thanked me for my kindness  
to them in wonderful crops of flowers1  
and really put the old residents of the 
place to shame4 ,all through the years  
of neglect they had no doubt been       
yearning to bud and bloom1 but were     
unable to do so because of unfavorable  
conditions1 but when the opportunity to 
assert themselves came they made haste  
to take advantage of it in a way that   
proves how responsive flowers are to the
 right kind of treatment4  ,the ,rose   
will only do its best in a soil that is 
rather heavy with clay1 or a tenacious  
loam4 ,it likes to feel the earth firm  

about its roots4 ,in light1 loose soils 
it never does well1 though it frequently
 makes a vigorous growth of branches in 
them1 but it is from a more compact soil
 that we get the most and finest        
flowers4  ,illustration3 ,,hybrid       
,,perpetual ,,rose  ,some varieties do  
well in a soil of clay containing       
considerable gravel4 ,such a soil       
provides for the roots the firmness of  
which ,i have spoken1 while the gravel  
insures perfect drainage1--a matter of  
great importance in ,rose-culture4      
,success cannot be expected in a soil   
unduly retentive of moisture4 ,very     
heavy soils can be lightened by the     
addition of coarse1 sharp sand1 old     
mortar1 and cinders4 ,if the location   
chosen does not furnish perfect         
drainage1 naturally1 artificial drainage
 must be resorted to4 ,make an          
excavation at least a foot and a half in
 depth1 and fill in1 at the bottom1 with
 bits of broken brick1 crockery1 coarse 
gravel1 fine stone--anything that will  

not readily decay--and thus secure a    
stratum of porous material through which
 the superfluous moisture in the soil   
will readily drain away4 ,this is an    
item in ,rose-culture that one cannot   
afford to ignore1 if he desires fine    
,roses4  ,a rich soil must be provided  
for the plants in order to secure good  
results4 ,this1 also1 is a matter of the
 greatest importance4 ,the ideal        
fertilizer is old1 well-rotted          
cow-manure--so old that it is black1 and
 so rotten that it will crumble at the  
touch of the hoe4 ,on no account should 
fresh manure be used4 ,if old manure    
cannot be obtained1 substitute          
finely-ground bonemeal1 in the          
proportion of a pound to as much soil as
 you think would fill a bushel-basket1  
on a rough estimate4 ,but by all means  
use the cow-manure if it can possibly be
 procured1 as nothing else suits the    
,rose so well4 ,it will be safe to use  
it in the proportion of a third to the  
bulk of earth in which you plant your   

,roses4 ,whatever fertilizer is used    
should be thoroughly worked into the    
soil before the plants are set out4 ,see
 that all lumps are pulverized4 ,if this
 is not done1 there is danger of        
looseness about some of the roots at    
planting-time1 and this is a thing to   
guard against1 especially with young    
plants4  ,location should be taken into 
consideration1 always4 ,choose1 if      
possible1 one that has an exposure to   
the sunshine of the morning and the     
middle of the day4 ,a western exposure  
is a great deal better than none1 but   
the heat of it is generally so intense  
that few ,roses can long retain their   
freshness in it4 ,something can be done1
 however1 to temper the extreme heat of 
it by planting shrubs where they will   
shade the plants from noon till three   
o'clock4  ,care must be taken1 in the   
choice of a location1 to guard against  
drafts4 ,if ,roses are planted where a  
cold wind from the east or north can    
blow over the bed1 look out for trouble4

 ,plan for a screen of evergreens1 if   
the bed is to be a permanent one4 ,if   
temporary only1 set up some boards to   
protect the plants from getting chilled 
until quick-growing annuals can be made 
to take their place4 ,i have found that 
mildew on ,rose-bushes is traceable1    
nine times out of ten1 to exposure to   
cold drafts1 and that few varieties are 
strong enough to withstand the effects  
of repeated attacks of it4 ,the harm    
done by it can be mitigated1 to some    
extent1 by applications of flowers of   
sulphur1 dusted over the entire plant   
while moist with dew1 but it will not do
 to depend on this remedy4 ,remove the  
cause of trouble and there will be no   
need of any application4  ,because the  
,rose is so beautiful1 when in full     
bloom1 quite naturally we like to plant 
it where its beauty can be seen to the  
best advantage4 ,but ,i would not advise
 giving it a place on the lawn1 or in   
the front yard4 ,when plants are in     
bloom1 people will look only at their   

flowers1 and whatever drawbacks there   
are about the bush will not be noticed4 
,but after the flowering period is over1
 the bushes will come in for inspection1
 and then it will be discovered that a  
,rose-bush without blossoms is not half 
as attractive as most other shrubs are4 
,we prune it back sharply in our efforts
 to get the finest possible flowers from
 it1 thus making it impossible to have  
luxuriance of branch or foliage4 ,we    
thin it until there is not enough left  
of it to give it the dignity of a shrub4
 ,in short1 as ornamental shrubs1 ,roses
 are failures with the exception of a   
few varieties1 and these are not kinds  
in general cultivation4 ,this being the 
case1 it is advisable to locate the     
,rose-bed where it will not be greatly  
in evidence after the flowering season  
is ended4 ,but try to have it where its 
glories can be enjoyed by the occupants 
of the home4 ,not under1 or close to1   
the living-room windows1 for that space 
should be reserved for summer flowers1  

but where it will be in full view1 if   
possible1 from the kitchen as well as   
the parlor4 ,the flowering period of the
 ,rose is so short that we must contrive
 to get the greatest possible amount of 
pleasure out of it1 and in order to do  
that we want it where we can see it at  
all times4  ,very few of our best ,roses
 are really hardy1 though most of the   
florists' catalogues speak of them as   
being so4 ,many kinds lose the greater  
share of their branches during the      
winter1 unless given good protection4   
,their roots1 however1 are seldom       
injured so severely that they will not  
send up a stout growth of new branches  
during the season1 but this is not what 
we want4 ,we want ,roses1--lots of      
them1--and in order to have them we must
 contrive1 in some way1 to save as many 
of the last year's branches as possible4
 ,fortunately1 this can be done without 
a great deal of trouble4  ,here is my   
method of winter protection3 ,late in   
fall--generally about the first of      

,november1 or whenever there are        
indications that winter is about to     
close in upon us--,i bend the bushes to 
the ground1 and cover them with dry     
earth1 leaves1 litter from the barn1 or 
evergreen branches4 ,in doing this ,i am
 not aiming to keep the frost away from 
the plants1 as might be supposed1 but   
rather to prevent the sun from getting  
at the soil and thawing the frost that  
has taken possession of it4 ,scientific 
investigation has proven that a plant1  
though comparatively tender1 is not     
seriously injured by freezing1 if it can
 be kept frozen until the frost is      
extracted from it naturally1--that is1  
gradually and according to natural      
processes4 ,it is the frequent          
alternation of freezing and thawing that
 does the harm4 ,therefore1 if you have 
a tender ,rose that you want to carry   
over winter in the open ground1 give it 
ample protection as soon as the frost   
has got at it--before it has a chance to
 thaw out--and you can be reasonably    

sure of its coming through in spring in 
good condition4 ,what ,i mean by the    
term ample protection is--a covering of 
one kind or another that will shade the 
plant and counteract the influence of   
the sun upon the frozen soil--not1 as   
most amateurs seem to think1 for the    
purpose of keeping the soil warm4 ,i    
have already made mention of this       
scientific fact1 and may do it again    
because it is a matter little           
understood1 but is one of the greatest  
importance1 hence my frequent reference 
to it4  ,if earth is used as a covering1
 it should be dry1 and after it is put  
on1 boards1 or something that will turn 
rain and water should be put over it4   
,old oil-cloth is excellent for this    
purpose4 ,canvas that has been given a  
coating of paint is good4 ,tarred       
sheathing-paper answers the purpose very
 well4 ,almost anything will do that    
prevents the earth from getting         
saturated with water1 which1 if allowed 
to stand among the branches1 will prove 

quite as harmful as exposure to the     
fluctuations of winter weather4 ,if     
leaves are used1--and these make an     
ideal covering if you can get enough of 
them1--they can be kept in place by     
laying coarse wire netting over them4   
,or evergreen branches can be used to   
keep the wind from blowing them away4   
,these branches alone will be sufficient
 protection for the hardier kinds1 such 
as ,harrison's ,yellow1 ,provence1      
,cabbage1 and the ,mosses1 anywhere     
south of ,new ,york4 ,north of that     
latitude ,i would not advise depending  
on so slight a protection4              
,earth-covering is preferable for the   
northern section of the ,united ,states4
  ,illustration3 ,,rose ,,trellis  ,it  
is no easy matter to get sturdy         
,rose-bushes ready for winter4 ,their   
canes are stiff and brittle4 ,their     
thorns are formidable4 ,one person1     
working alone1 cannot do the entire work
 to advantage4 ,it needs one to bend the
 bushes down and hold them in that      

position while the other applies the    
covering4 ,in bending the bush1 great   
care must be taken to prevent its being 
broken1 or cracked1 close to the ground4
 ,provide yourself with gloves of       
substantial leather or thick canvas     
before you tackle them4 ,then take hold 
of the cane close to the ground1 with   
the left hand1 holding it firmly1 grasp 
the upper part of it with the right     
hand1 and proceed gently and cautiously 
with the work until you have it flat on 
the ground4 ,if your left-hand grasp is 
a firm one1 you can feel the bush       
yielding by degrees1 and this is what   
you should be governed by4 ,on no       
account work so rapidly that you do not 
feel the resistance of the branch giving
 way in a manner that assures you that  
it is adjusting itself safely to the    
force that is being applied to it4 ,when
 you have it on the ground1 you will    
have to hold it there until it is       
covered with earth1 unless you prefer to
 weight it down with something heavy    

enough to keep it in place while you    
cover it4 ,omit the weights1 or relax   
your grip upon it1 and the elastic      
branches will immediately spring back to
 their normal position4 ,sometimes1 when
 a bush is stubbornly stiff1 and refuses
 to yield without danger of injury1 it  
is well to heap a pailful or two of     
earth against it1 on the side toward    
which it is to be bent1 thus enabling   
you to curve it over the heaped-up soil 
in such a manner as to avoid a sharp    
bend4 ,never hurry with this work4 ,take
 your time for it1 and do it thoroughly1
 and thoroughness means carefulness1    
always4 ,as a general thing1 six or     
eight inches of dry soil will be        
sufficient covering for ,roses at the   
north4 ,if litter is used1 the covering 
can be eight or ten inches deep4  ,do   
not apply any covering early in the     
season1 as so many do for the sake of   
getting the work out of the way4 ,wait  
until you are reasonably sure that cold 
weather is setting in4  ,teas1 and the  

,bourbon and ,bengal sections of the    
so-called ever-bloomers1 are most       
satisfactorily wintered in the open     
ground by making a pen of boards about  
them1 at least ten inches deep1 and     
filling it with leaves1 packing them    
firmly over the laid-down plants4 ,then 
cover with something to shed rain4      
,these very tender sorts cannot always  
be depended on to come through the      
winter safely at the north1 even when   
given the best of protection1 but where 
one has a bed of them that has afforded 
pleasure throughout the entire summer1  
quite naturally he dislikes to lose them
 if there is a possibility of saving    
them1 and he will be willing to make an 
effort to carry them through the winter4
 ,if only part of them are saved1 he    
will feel amply repaid for all his      
trouble4 ,generally all the old top will
 have to be cut away1 but that does not 
matter with ,roses of this class1 as    
vigorous shoots will be sent up1 early  
in the season1 if the roots are alive1  

therefore little or no harm is done by  
the entire removal of the old growth4   
,the best ,roses to plant are those     
grown by reliable dealers who understand
 how to grow vigorous stock1 and who are
 too honest to give a plant a wrong     
name4 ,some unscrupulous dealers1 whose 
supply of plants is limited to a few of 
the kinds easiest to grow1 will fill any
 order you send them1 and your plants   
will come to you labelled to correspond 
with your order4 ,but when they come    
into bloom1 you may find that you have  
got kinds that you did not order1 and   
did not care for4 ,the honest dealer    
never plays this trick on his customers4
 ,if he hasn't the kinds you order1 he  
will tell you so4 ,therefore1 before    
ordering1 try to find out who the honest
 dealers are1 and give no order to any  
firm not well recommended by persons in 
whose opinion you have entire           
confidence4 ,there are scores of such   
firms1 but they do not advertise as     
extensively as the newer ones1 because  

they have many old customers who do     
their advertising for them by speaking  
good words in their favor to friends who
 need anything in their line4  ,i would 
advise purchasing two-year-old plants1  
always4 ,they have much stronger roots  
than those of the one-year-old class1   
and will give a fairly good crop of     
flowers the first season1 as a general  
thing4 ,and when one sets out a new     
,rose1 he is always in a hurry to see   
what it looks like4  ,be sure to buy    
plants on their own roots4 ,it is       
claimed by many growers that many       
varieties of the ,rose do better when   
grafted on vigorous stock than they do  
on their own roots1 and this is         
doubtless true4 ,but it is also true    
that the stock of these kinds can be    
increased more rapidly by grafting than 
from cuttings1 and1 because of this1    
many dealers resort to this method of   
securing a supply of salable plants4 ,it
 is money in their pockets to do so4    
,but it is an objectionable plan1       

because the scion of a choice variety   
grafted to a root of an inferior kind is
 quite likely to die off1 and when this 
happens you have a worthless plant4     
,strong and vigorous branches may be    
sent up from the root1 but from them you
 will get no flowers1 because the root  
from which they spring is that of a     
non-flowering sort4 ,many persons cannot
 understand why it is that plants so    
luxuriant in growth fail to bloom1 but  
when they discover that this growth     
comes from the root below where the     
graft was inserted1 the mystery is      
explained to them4 ,when grafted plants 
are used1 care must be taken to remove  
every shoot that appears about the plant
 unless it is sent out above the graft4 
,if the shoots that are sent up from    
below the graft are allowed to remain1  
the grafted portion will soon die off1  
because these shoots from the root of   
the variety upon which it was worked    
will speedily rob it of vitality and    
render it worthless4 ,all this risk is  

avoided by planting only kinds which are
 grown upon their own roots4  ,in       
planting ,roses1 make the hole in which 
they are to be set large enough to admit
 of spreading out their roots evenly and
 naturally4 ,let it be deep enough to   
bring the roots about the same distance 
below the surface as the plant shows    
them to have been before it was taken   
from the nursery row4 ,when the roots   
are properly straightened out1 fill in  
about them with fine soil1 and firm it  
down well1 and then add two or three    
inches more of soil1 after which at     
least a pailful of water should be      
applied to each plant1 to thoroughly    
settle the soil between and about the   
roots4 ,avoid loose planting if you want
 your plants to get a good start1 and do
 well4 ,when all the soil has been      
returned to the hole1 add a mulch of    
coarse manure to prevent too rapid      
evaporation of moisture while the plants
 are putting forth new feeding roots4   
,if large-rooted plants are procured    

from the nursery1 quite likely some of  
the larger roots will be injured by the 
spade in lifting them from the row4     
,look over these roots carefully1 and   
cut off the ends of all that have been  
bruised1 before planting4 ,a smooth cut 
will heal readily1 but a ragged one will
 not4  ,we have several classes or      
divisions of ,roses adapted to culture  
at the north4 ,the ,june ,roses are     
those which give a bountiful crop of    
flowers at the beginning of summer1 but 
none thereafter4 ,this class includes   
the ,provence1 the ,mosses1 the ,scotch 
and ,austrian kinds1 ,harrison's        
,yellow1 ,madame ,plantier1 and the     
climbers4  ,illustration3 ,,rambler     
,,roses  ,the ,hybrid ,perpetuals bloom 
profusely in early summer1 and sparingly
 thereafter1 at intervals1 until the    
coming of cold weather4 ,these are1 in  
many respects1 the most beautiful of all
 ,roses4  ,the ever-bloomers are made up
 of ,bengal1 ,bourbon1 ,tea and         
,noisette varieties4 ,these are small in

 habit of growth1 but exquisitely       
beautiful in form and color1 and most   
kinds are so delightfully fragrant1 and 
flower so freely from ,june to the      
coming of cold weather1 that no garden  
should be without a bed of them4  ,the  
,rugosa ,roses are more valuable as     
shrubs than as flowering plants1 though 
their large1 bright1 single flowers are 
extremely attractive4 ,their chief      
attraction is their beautifully crinkled
 foliage1 of a rich green1 and their    
bright crimson fruit which is retained  
throughout the season4 ,this class gives
 flowers1 at intervals1 from ,june to   
,october4  ,hybrid ,perpetuals must be  
given special treatment in order to     
secure flowers from them throughout the 
season4 ,their blossoms are always      
produced on new growth1 therefore1 if   
you would keep them producing flowers1  
you must keep them growing4 ,this is    
done by feeding the plant liberally1 and
 cutting back the branches upon which   
flowers have been produced to a strong  

bud from which a new branch can be      
developed4 ,in this way we keep the     
plant constantly renewing itself1 and in
 the process of renewal we are likely to
 get a good many flowers where we would 
get few1 or none1 if we were to let the 
plant take care of itself4 ,the term    
perpetual is1 however1 a misleading one1
 as it suggests a constant production of
 flowers4 ,most varieties of this class1
 as has been said1 will bloom           
occasionally1 after the first generous  
crop of the season1 but never very      
freely1 and often not at all unless the 
treatment outlined above is carefully   
followed4 ,but so beautiful are the     
,roses of this class that one fine      
flower is worth a score of ordinary     
blossoms1 and the lover of the ,rose    
will willingly devote a good deal of    
time and labor to the production of it4 
,illustration3 ,,dorothy ,,perkins      
,,rose--,,the ,,best ,,of ,,the         
,,ramblers  ,the ,ramblers1 now so      
popular1 constitute a class by          

themselves1 in many respects4 ,they are 
of wonderfully vigorous habit1 have a   
score or more of flowers where others   
have but one bloom early in the season1 
and give a wonderful show of color4 ,the
 individual blossoms are too small to   
please the critical ,rose-grower1 but   
there are so many in each cluster1 and  
these clusters are so numerous1 that the
 general effect is most charming4       
,crimson ,rambler is too well known to  
need description4 ,the variety that     
deserves a place at the very head of the
 list1 allowing me to be judge1 is      
,dorothy ,perkins4 ,this variety is of  
slenderer growth than ,crimson ,rambler1
 therefore of more vine-like habit1 and1
 on this account1 better adapted to use 
about porches and verandas1 where it can
 be trained along the cornice in a      
graceful fashion that the stiff-branched
 ,crimson ,rambler will not admit of4   
,its foliage is not so large as that of 
the other variety named1 but it is much 
more attractive1 being finely cut1 and  

having a glossy surface that adds much  
to the beauty of the plant4 ,but the    
chief charm of the plant is its soft    
pink flowers1 dainty and delicate in the
 extreme4 ,these are produced in long1  
loose sprays instead of crowded         
clusters1 thus making the effect of a   
plant in full bloom vastly more graceful
 than that of any of the others of the  
class4  ,roses have their enemies1 and  
it would seem as if there must be some  
sort of understanding among them as to  
the date of attack1 because nearly all  
of them put in an appearance at about   
the same time4 ,the aphis ,i find no    
difficulty in keeping down by the use of
 ,nicoticide--a very strongly           
concentrated extract of the nicotine    
principle of tobacco4 ,this should be   
diluted with water1 as directed on the  
cans or bottles in which it is put up1  
and applied to all parts of the bush    
with a sprayer4 ,do not wait for the    
aphis to appear before beginning warfare
 against him4 ,you can count on his     

coming1 therefore it is well to act on  
the offensive1 instead of the defensive1
 for it is an easier matter to keep him 
away altogether than it is to get rid of
 him after he has taken possession of   
your bushes4 ,if he finds the tang of   
,nicoticide clinging to the foliage on  
his arrival1 he will speedily conclude  
that it will be made extremely          
uncomfortable for him1 if he decides to 
locate1 and he will look for more       
congenial quarters elsewhere4  ,for the 
worm that does so much injury to our    
plants at the time when they are just   
getting ready to bloom1 ,i use an       
emulsion made by adding two quarts      
kerosene to one part of laundry soap4   
,the soap should be reduced to a liquid1
 and allowed to become very hot1 before 
the oil is added4 ,then agitate the two 
rapidly and forcibly until they unite in
 a jelly-like substance4 ,the easiest   
and quickest way to secure an emulsion  
is by using a brass syringe such as     
florists sprinkle their plants with4    

,insert it in the vessel containing the 
oil and soap1 and draw into it as much  
of the liquids as it will contain1 and  
then expel them with as much force as   
possible1 and continue to do this until 
the desired union has taken place4 ,use 
one part of the emulsion to eight or ten
 parts water1 and make sure it reaches  
every portion of the bush4  ,in         
,rose-culture1 as in every branch of    
floriculture1 the price of success is   
constant vigilance4 ,if you do not get  
the start of insect enemies1 and keep   
them under control1 they will almost    
invariably ruin your crop of flowers1   
and often the bushes themselves4        
,therefore be thorough and persistent in
 the warfare waged against the common   
enemy1 and do not relax your efforts    
until he is routed4  ,in making a       
selection of ,hybrid ,perpetuals for    
home planting1 the amateur finds it     
difficult to choose from the long lists 
sent out by many dealers4 ,he wants the 
best and most representative of the     

class1 but he doesn't know which these  
are4 ,if ,i were asked to select a dozen
 kinds1 my choice would be the          
following3  ,alfred ,colomb4 ,bright    
crimson4 ,fragrant4  ,anna de ,diesbach4
 ,carmine4 ,fragrant4  ,baroness        
,rothschild4 ,soft pink4  ,captain      
,hayward4 ,deep rose4 ,perfect in form4 
,frau ,carl ,druschki4 ,pure white4     
,general ,jacqueminot4 ,brilliant       
crimson4 ,very sweet4  ,jules           
,margottin4 ,rosy crimson4  ,mabel      
,morrison4 ,white1 delicately shaded    
with blush4  ,magna ,charta4 ,glowing   
carmine4 ,a lovely flower4  ,madame     
,gabriel de ,luizet4 ,delicate pink4    
,exquisite4  ,mrs4 ,john ,laing4 ,soft  
pink4 ,very fragrant4  ,ulrich ,brunner4
 ,bright cherry red4  ,to increase the  
above list would be to duplicate colors1
 for nearly all the other kinds included
 in the dealers' lists are variations of
 the distinctive qualities of the above4
 ,the twelve named will give you more   
pleasure than a larger number of less   

distinctive kinds would1 for in each    
merit stands out pre-eminent1 and all   
the best qualities of the best ,roses   
are represented in the list4     ,,the  
,,rose ,,as ,a ,,summer ,,bedder   ,the 
amateur gardener may enjoy ,roses from  
,june to ,november if he is willing to  
take a little trouble for them4 ,not1   
however1 with the material treated of in
 the chapter on ,the ,rose--though what 
is said in it relative to the culture of
 the ,hybrid ,perpetual class applies   
with considerable pertinence to the     
classes of which ,i shall make special  
mention in this chapter--but with the   
summer-blooming sorts1 such as the      
,teas1 the ,bengals1 the ,bourbons1 and 
the ,noisettes4 ,these are classed in   
the catalogues as ever-bloomers1 and the
 term is much more appropriate to them  
than the term ,hybrid ,perpetual is to  
that section of the great ,rose family1 
for all of the four classes named above 
are really ever-bloomers if given the   
right kind of treatment--that is1       

bloomers throughout the summer season4  
,in them we find material from which it 
is easy to secure a constant supply of  
flowers from the beginning of summer to 
the closing in of winter4  ,in order to 
grow this class of ,roses well1 one must
 understand something of their habits4  
,they send out strong branches from the 
base of the plant1 shortly after        
planting1 and these branches will       
generally bear from five to eight       
blossoms4 ,when all the buds on the     
branch have developed into flowers1     
nothing more can be expected from that  
branch in the way of bloom1 unless it   
can be coaxed to send out other         
branches4 ,this it can be prevailed on  
to do by close pruning4 ,cut the old    
branch back to some point along its     
length--preferably near its base--where 
there is a strong eye or bud4 ,if the   
soil is rich--and it can hardly be too  
rich1 for these ,roses1 like those of   
the kinds treated of in the foregoing   
chapter1 require strong food and a great

 deal of it in order to do themselves   
justice--this bud will soon develop into
 a vigorous branch which1 like the      
original one1 will bear a cluster of    
flowers4 ,in order to keep a succession 
of bloom it is absolutely necessary to  
keep the plant producing new branches1  
as flowers are only borne on new growth4
 ,it will be noticed that the treatment 
required by these ,roses is almost      
identical1 so far1 with that advised for
 the ,hybrid ,perpetuals4 ,indeed1 the  
latter are summer ever-bloomers of a    
stronger habit than the class ,i am now 
speaking about4 ,that is about all the  
difference there is between them1 up to 
this point1 except as regards the       
flowering habit4 ,the ,hybrid ,perpetual
 blooms profusely in ,june and ,july1   
but sparingly thereafter1 while the     
ever-bloomers bloom freely all the      
season after they get a good start4     
,fertilizer should be applied at least  
once a month4 ,not in large quantities1 
each time1 but enough to stimulate a    

strong and healthy growth4 ,the plants  
should be kept going ahead constantly4  
,let them get a check1 and you will find
 it a difficult matter to get many      
flowers from them after that1 the same  
season4 ,give them the treatment that   
results in continuous growth and you    
will have ,roses in abundance up to the 
coming of cold weather4 ,of course      
plants so treated are not to be expected
 to attain much size4 ,but who cares for
 large bushes if he can have fine       
flowers and plenty of them8  ,the       
blossoms from the ,teas and their       
kindred are never as large as those of  
the ,june and the ,hybrid ,perpetual    
classes1 and1 as a general thing1 are   
not as brilliant in color4 ,some are    
delightfully fragrant1 while some have  
no fragrance at all4  ,la               
,france1--which is classed as a ,hybrid 
,tea1 because it is the result of       
hybridizing one of the hardier varieties
 with a pure-blooded ,tea variety1--is  
one of the finest ,roses ever grown4 ,it

 is large1 and fine in form1 rich1      
though not brilliant1 in color1 is a    
very free bloomer1 and its fragrance is 
indescribably sweet4 ,indeed1 all the   
sweetness of the entire ,rose family    
seems concentrated in its peculiar1     
powerful1 but1 at the same time1        
delicate odor4 ,color1 pale pink4       
,duchess de ,brabant is an old variety1 
popular years and years ago1 but all the
 better for that1 for its long-continued
 popularity proves it the possessor of  
exceptional merit4 ,it is of very free  
development1 and bears large quantities 
of flowers of silvery pink4             
,viscountess ,folkestone is1 like ,la   
,france1 a ,hybrid ,tea4 ,it is an      
excellent bloomer4 ,its color is a soft 
pink1 shaded with cream1 with reflexed  
petals4 ,it has a rich1 ,june-,rose     
fragrance4  ,maman ,cochet is1 all      
things considered1 one of the best of   
its class4 ,it blooms in wonderful      
profusion4 ,it is a strong grower4 ,its 
color is a bright pink1 overlaid with   

silvery lustre4 ,it is very double1 and 
quite as lovely in bud as in the        
expanded flower4  ,illustration3 ,,tea  
,,rose  ,hermosa is an old favorite4 ,it
 is always in bloom when well cared for4
 ,its rich carmine-rose flowers are very
 double1 and are produced in prodigal   
profusion4 ,but it lacks the charm of   
fragrance4  ,caprice is a very peculiar 
variety4 ,its thick1 waxen petals of    
rosy carmine are heavily blotched and   
striped with dark red1 shading to       
crimson4 ,it is most pleasing when the  
flower begins to expand4  ,perle des    
,jardins is a most lovely ,rose1 of     
almost as rich a color as the famous    
,marechal ,neil1--a deep1 glowing       
yellow1--lovely beyond description4 ,it 
is a very free bloomer1 and should be   
given a place in all collections4       
,sunset--another good bloomer--is a     
tawny yellow in color1 flamed with fawn 
and coppery tints4 ,it is an exquisite  
,rose4  ,clothilde ,soupert does not    
properly belong to either of the four   

classes mentioned above1 though of      
course closely related4 ,it is          
catalogued as a ,polyantha4 ,its habit  
is peculiar4 ,it bears enormous         
quantities of flowers1 with the greatest
 freedom of any ,rose ,i have ever      
grown1 but its blossoms are small1 and  
are produced in clusters quite unlike   
those of the other members of the       
ever-blooming class4 ,indeed1 its habit 
of growth and flowering is quite like   
that of the ,rambler varieties1 on a    
small scale4 ,but1 unlike the ,ramblers1
 its flowers are very double4 ,they are 
produced at the extremity of the new    
branches1 in clusters of fifteen to     
twenty and thirty4 ,so many are there to
 each branch that you will find it      
advisable to thin out half of them if   
you want perfect flowers4 ,in color it  
is a delicate pink on first opening1    
fading to almost white4 ,at the centre  
of the flower it is a bright carmine4   
,give this variety a trial and you will 
be delighted with it4  ,it must not be  

understood that the above list includes 
all the desirable sorts adapted to      
general culture4 ,it is simply a list of
 the most distinct varieties that       
respond satisfactorily to the treatment 
outlined1 and from which the amateur    
gardener can expect the best results4   
,there are scores of other varieties    
possessing exceptional merit1 but many  
of them require the attention of the    
professional in order to give           
satisfaction1 and are not what ,i feel  
warranted in recommending the amateur to
 undertake the culture of if large      
quantities of flowers are what he has in
 mind4 ,every one on the list given is a
 standard variety1 and you will find    
that you have made no mistake in        
confining your selection to it4  ,i     
would advise the purchase of            
two-year-old plants4 ,younger plants    
seldom bloom with much profusion the    
first season4  ,order your plants in    
,april4 ,get them into the ground about 
the middle of ,may4 ,mulch the soil     

about them well4 ,this will do away with
 the necessity of watering if the season
 happens to prove a dry one4 ,in        
planting1 be governed by the directions 
given in the chapter on ,the ,rose4     
,try a bed of these ever-bloomers for a 
season and you will never afterward be  
without them4 ,other flowers will rival 
them in brilliance1 perhaps1 and may    
require less attention1 but--they will  
not be ,roses6 ,one fine ,rose affords  
more pleasure to the lover of the best  
among flowers than a whole garden full  
of ordinary blossoms can1 and this is   
why ,i urge all flower-loving people to 
undertake the culture of the            
ever-blooming class of ,roses1 for ,i   
know they will give greater satisfaction
 than anything else you can grow4  ,in  
fall1 the plants can be taken up1 packed
 away in boxes of earth1 and kept in the
 cellar over winter4 ,cut away almost   
the entire top when the plants are      
lifted4 ,all that one cares to carry    
through the winter is the root of the   

plant4     ,,the ,,dahlia   ,thirty or  
forty years ago the ,dahlia was one of  
our popular flowers4 ,that is1 popular  
among those who aspired to keep up with 
the times1 and grow all the new plants  
that had real merit in them4 ,at that   
time but one form of it was considered  
worth growing1 and that was the very    
double1 globular type of flower4 ,the   
single varieties were looked upon as    
worthless4  ,after a time the popularity
 of the flower waned for some reason    
hard to account for1 except on the      
theory that there are fashions in       
flowers as in clothes4 ,i presume that  
the true explanation is that we         
,americans are prone to run to extremes1
 and when we take up a plant and it     
becomes a favorite we overdo matters and
 tire of it because we see so much of   
it4 ,then we relegate it to the         
background for a time1 and after awhile 
we drag it out of the obscurity to which
 we temporarily consigned it as a       
penalty for its popularity1 and         

straightway it comes into greater       
prominence than ever1 precisely as does 
the cut of a sleeve or the style of     
hair-dressing4 ,this explanation may not
 be very complimentary to ,american good
 sense or taste1 but ,i think it goes to
 the root of the matter4 ,it is         
sincerely to be hoped that the time will
 come when our flower-growing will have 
no trace of the fad about it1 and that  
whatever we cultivate will grow into    
favor solely because of real merit1 and 
that its popularity will be permanent4  
,i am encouraged to think that such may 
be the case1 for some of the favorite   
flowers of the day have held their own  
against all newcomers for a considerable
 period1 and seem to be growing in favor
 every year4 ,this is as it should be4  
,it used to be thought that the ,dahlia 
could not be grown successfully at the  
north if it were not started into growth
 in the house1 or greenhouse1 very early
 in the season4 ,nine times out of ten  
the result was a weak1 spindling plant  

by the time it was safe to put it into  
the ground--which was not until all     
danger from frost was over4 ,generally  
such plants were not strong enough to   
bloom until about the time frost came in
 fall1 for it took them the greater part
 of the season to recover from the      
effect of early forcing1 in which the   
vitality of the plant suffered almost to
 the point of extinction1 and to which  
was added the ordeal of the change from 
in- to out-door conditions4 ,our seasons
 are too short for it1 was the universal
 verdict4 ,at the south it may do well1 
but there's no use in trying to do      
anything with it at the north unless one
 has a greenhouse1 and understands the  
peculiarities of the plant better than  
the rank and file of flower-loving      
people can expect to4 ,so it came about 
that its cultivation was given up by    
small gardeners1 and it was seen only on
 the grounds of the wealthier people1   
who could afford the services of the    
professional gardener4  ,we have        

learned1 of late years1 that our        
treatment of the plant was almost the   
opposite of what was required4  ,some   
eight or ten years ago1 ,i ordered a    
collection of choice varieties of the   
,dahlia4 ,i ordered them early in the   
season1 expecting to start them into    
growth in pots as usual4 ,for some      
reason they did not come until the last 
day of ,may4 ,it was then too late to   
start them in the usual way1 and ,i     
planted them in the garden1 expecting   
they would amount to nothing4  ,the     
result was1 to me1 a most surprising    
one4  ,the place in which ,i planted    
them was one whose soil was very rich   
and mellow4 ,it was near a pump1 from   
which a great deal of water was thrown  
out every day4  ,in less than a week    
after planting1 the tubers threw up     
strong shoots1 and these grew very      
rapidly under the combined effects of   
rich soil1 warmth1 and plenty of        
moisture at the roots4 ,indeed1 they    
went ahead so rapidly that ,i considered

 their growth a discouraging feature1 as
 ,i felt sure it must be a weak one4    
,the result was that when the ,state    
,horticultural ,society held its summer 
meeting in the village in which ,i      
resided1 on the twenty-eighth of        
,august1 ,i placed on exhibition some of
 the finest specimens of ,dahlia        
blossoms the members of the ,society had
 ever seen1 and carried off eight first 
premiums4  ,since then ,i have never    
attempted to start my ,dahlias in the   
house4 ,i give them an extremely rich   
soil1 spaded up to the depth of at least
 a foot and a half1 and made so mellow  
that the new roots find it an easy      
matter to work their way through it4    
,water is applied freely during the     
season4 ,i consider this an item of     
great importance1 as ,i find that the   
plant fails to make satisfactory        
development when located in a dry place4
 ,a pailful of water a day is not too   
much to apply to each plant in a dry    
season4  ,the soil must be rich4 ,in a  

poor soil development will be on a par  
with that of plants which have been     
given a dry place4  ,because of the     
peculiar brittleness of the stalks of   
the ,dahlia it is quite necessary to    
furnish them with good support4 ,my plan
 is to set a stout stake by each plant1 
at planting-time4 ,this should be at    
least five feet tall4 ,i put it in place
 at the time of planting the tuber1     
because then ,i know just where the root
 of the future plant is1 and can set the
 stake without injuring it4 ,but if     
stake-setting is left until later in the
 season one runs a risk of breaking off 
some of the new tubers that have formed 
about the old one4 ,i tie the main stalk
 of the plant to the stake with a strip 
of cloth instead of a string1 as the    
latter will cut into the soft wood4     
,sometimes1 if the plant sends up a good
 many stalks1 it will be necessary to   
furnish additional support4 ,unless some
 kind of support is given we are likely 
to get up some morning after a heavy    

rain1 or a sudden wind1 and find our    
plants broken down1 and in attempting to
 save them we are pretty sure to        
complete the wreck1 as a slight twist or
 turn in the wrong direction will snap  
the stalk off at its junction with the  
root4  ,the ,dahlia will be found one of
 our very best plants for use in the    
border where something is needed for a  
filler4 ,it is very effective as a      
hedge1 and can be used to great         
advantage to hide a fence4 ,single      
specimens are fine for prominent        
locations on the grounds about the      
house4 ,in fact1 it is a plant that can 
be made useful anywhere4  ,illustration3
 ,,cactus ,,dahlia  ,in fall1 when our  
early frosts come1 it will be necessary 
to protect it on cool nights1 as it is  
extremely tender4 ,this can be easily   
done by setting some stout sticks about 
the plant and covering it with a sheet4 
,if tided over the frosty weather that  
usually comes for two or three nights   
about the middle of ,september1 it will 

bloom profusely during the weeks of     
pleasant weather that almost always     
follow the early frosts1 and then is    
when it will be enjoyed most4  ,when the
 frost has killed its stalks1 it should 
be dug and got ready for winter4 ,lift  
the great mass of roots that will have  
grown from the little tuber planted at  
the beginning of the season1 and do this
 without breaking them apart1 if        
possible4 ,spread them out in the sun4  
,at night cover with a blanket1 and next
 day expose them to sunshine again4 ,do 
this for several days in succession     
until the soil that is lifted with them 
will crumble away easily4 ,exposure to  
sunshine has the effect of relieving    
them of a good deal of moisture which   
they contain in great quantity when     
first dug1 and which ought to be got rid
 of1 in a large degree1 before they are 
stored in the cellar4  ,the tubers      
should never be placed on the           
cellar-bottom1 because of the dampness  
that is generally found there4 ,i spread

 mine out on shelves of wire netting1   
suspended four or five feet from the    
floor4 ,if they show signs of mould ,i  
know they are too damp1 and elevate the 
shelves still more1 in order to get the 
tubers into a dryer stratum of air4 ,if 
they seem to be shrivelling too much1 ,i
 lower the shelves a little4 ,cellars   
differ so much that one can only tell   
where the right place is by             
experimenting4 ,watch your tubers       
carefully4 ,a little neglect will often 
result in failure1 as mould1 once given 
a chance to secure a foothold1 is rapid 
in its action1 and your tubers may be   
beyond help before you discover that    
there is anything the matter with them4 
,as soon as you find a mouldy root1     
throw it out4 ,if left it will speedily 
communicate its disease to every plant  
with which it comes in contact4 ,some   
persons tell me that they succeed in    
wintering their ,dahlia tubers best by  
packing them in boxes of perfectly dry  
sand4 ,if this is done1 be sure to      

elevate the box from the floor of the   
cellar4  ,quite naturally persons have  
an idea that the best results will be   
secured by planting out the whole bunch 
of tubers1 in spring4 ,this is a        
mistake4 ,one good tuber1 with an eye1  
or growing point1 will make a much      
better plant than the whole bunch set   
out together4  ,to sum up the treatment 
,i advise in the cultivation of the     
,dahlia3  ,have the ground very rich4   
,have it worked deeply4  ,plant single  
tubers about the first of ,june4        
,furnish a good support4  ,see that the 
ground is well supplied with moisture4  
,there has been a great change of       
opinion with regard to the ,dahlia4 ,we 
no longer confine ourselves to one type 
of it4 ,the single varieties1 which were
 despised of old1 are now prime         
favorites--preferred by many to any     
other kind4 ,the old very double show   
and fancy varieties are largely grown1  
but they share public favor with the    
decoratives1 the pompones1 and the      

cactus1 and1 as ,i have said1 the single
 forms4 ,which of these forms is most   
popular it would be hard to say4 ,all of
 them have enthusiastic champions1 and  
the best thing to do is to try them all4
  ,show ,dahlias are those with large   
and very double flowers of a single     
color1 and those in which the ground    
color is of a lighter shade than the    
edges or tips of the petals4 ,the outer 
petals recurve1 as the flower develops1 
until they meet at the stem1 thus giving
 us a ball-like blossom4  ,fancy        
,dahlias are those having striped       
petals1 and those in which the ground   
color is darker than the edges or tips  
of the petals4 ,this class1 as a rule1  
is very variable1 and a plant will often
 have flowers showing but one color4    
,sometimes half the flower will be one  
color1 half another4  ,the ,pompone or  
,liliputian class is a miniature edition
 of the show and fancy sorts1 quite as  
rich in color and perfect in form as    
either1 but of a dwarf habit of growth4 

,this class is well adapted to bedding  
out in summer4  ,the ,cactus ,dahlia has
 long pointed or twisted petals4 ,most  
varieties are single1 but some are      
semi-double4 ,this is the class that    
will be likely to find favor with those 
who admire the ragged ,japanese         
,chrysanthemums4  ,decorative ,dahlias  
have broad1 flat petals1 somewhat       
loosely arranged1 and much less formal  
than those of the show1 fancy1 or       
pompone sorts4 ,their flowers seldom    
have more than two rows of petals1 and  
are flat1 showing a yellow disc at the  
centre4 ,as a general thing they are    
produced on long stalk1 a flower to a   
stalk4 ,this makes them very useful for 
cutting4 ,they are the most graceful    
members of the entire ,dahlia family1   
allowing me to be judge4  ,the single   
type has but one row of petals4 ,plants 
of this class are very strong growers1  
and can be used to advantage in the back
 rows of the border4  ,no flower in     
cultivation to-day has a wider range of 

color than the ,dahlia1 and nearly all  
the colors represented in it are        
wonderfully rich in tone4 ,from the     
purest white to the richest crimson1 the
 deepest scarlet1 delicate pink and     
carmine1 rich yellow1 dark purple1      
orange and palest primrose1--surely all 
tastes can find something to please     
them4     ,,the ,,gladiolus   ,one of   
the most popular flowers of the day is  
the ,gladiolus4 ,all things considered1 
it is our best summer bloomer4 ,nothing 
in the floral world exceeds it in       
variety and range of color4 ,this color 
is in some varieties dark and rich in   
scarlets1 crimsons1 and purples1 in     
others dainty and delicate in pink1     
pearly flesh1 almost pure white1 and    
softest rose1 while the midway sorts are
 in brilliant carmines1 cherry-reds1    
lilacs1 and intermediate tones too      
numerous to mention4 ,nearly all        
varieties show most magnificent         
combinations of color that baffle       
description4 ,comparatively few         

varieties are one color throughout4     
,most plants in which such a bewildering
 variety of color is found have a       
tendency to coarseness1 but this        
objection cannot be urged against the   
,gladiolus4 ,it has all the delicacy of 
the ,orchid4 ,its habit of growth fits  
it admirably for use in the border4 ,its
 ease of cultivation makes it a favorite
 with the amateur who has only a limited
 amount of time to spend among the      
flowers4 ,it is a plant that any one can
 grow1 and it is a plant that will grow 
almost anywhere4 ,it is one of the few  
plants that seem almost able to take    
care of themselves4 ,beyond putting the 
corms in the ground1 in spring1 and an  
occasional weeding as the plant         
develops1 very little attention is      
required4  ,to secure the best effect   
from it1 the ,gladiolus should be       
planted in masses4 ,single specimens are
 far less satisfactory4 ,one must see   
fifty or a hundred plants in a bed ten  
or fifteen feet long to fully appreciate

 what it is capable of doing4  ,the time
 to plant it is in ,may1 after the soil 
has become warm4 ,nothing is gained by  
earlier planting4  ,the bed should be   
spaded to the depth of a foot1 at least4
 ,then the soil should be worked over   
until it is fine and light4 ,a liberal  
quantity of some good fertilizer should 
be added to it4 ,commercial fertilizers 
seem to suit it well1 but the use of    
barnyard manure gives excellent results1
 and ,i would prefer it1 if obtainable4 
,the corms should be put about four     
inches below the surface1 care being    
exercised at the time of planting to see
 that they are right side up4 ,it is    
often difficult to decide this matter   
before sprouting begins1 but a little   
careful examination of the corm will    
soon enable you to tell where the       
sprouts will start from1 and this will  
prevent you from getting it wrong-side  
up4 ,as soon as the plants send up a    
stalk1 some provision should be made for
 future support4 ,if you prefer to stake

 the beds1 set the stakes in rows about 
two feet apart4 ,wire or cord need not  
be stretched on them until the stalks   
are half grown4 ,the reason for setting 
the stakes early in the season is--you  
know just where the corm is then1 but   
later on you will not be able to tell   
where the new corms are1 and in setting 
the stakes at random you are quite      
likely to injure them4 ,when you apply  
the cord or wire to the stakes1 run it  
lengthwise of the bed1 and then across  
it in order to furnish a sufficient     
support without obliging the stalks to  
lean from the perpendicular to get the  
benefit of it4  ,for several seasons    
past1 ,i have made use of a             
coarse-meshed wire netting1 placed over 
the bed1 and fastened to stakes about   
eighteen inches high4 ,the stalks find  
no difficulty in making their way       
through the large meshes of the netting1
 and with a support of this kind they   
dispose themselves in a natural manner  
that is far more satisfactory than tying

 them to stakes1 as we often see done4  
,some kind of a support must be given if
 we would guard against injury caused by
 strong winds4 ,when the flower-stalk is
 once prostrated it is a difficult      
matter to get it back in place without  
breaking it4  ,if netting is used it    
need not be placed over the bed before  
the middle of ,july4 ,by that time most 
of the weeds which require attention    
during the early part of the season will
 have been disposed of4 ,putting on the 
netting at an earlier period would      
greatly interfere with the proper       
cultivation of the bed4 ,the soil should
 be kept light and open until the       
flower-stalks begin to show their buds4 
,the flowering-period covers several    
weeks1 beginning in ,august1 and lasting
 all through ,september4  ,the          
,gladiolus is extremely effective for   
interior decorative work4 ,it lasts for 
days after being cut4 ,indeed1 if cut   
when the first flowers at the base of   
the spike open1 it will continue to     

develop the buds above until all have   
become flowers1 if the water in which   
the stalks are placed is changed daily1 
and a bit of the end of the stalk is cut
 off each time4 ,for church use no      
flower excels it except the ,lily1 and  
that we can have for only a short time1 
and quite often not at all4  ,in late   
,october the plants should be lifted1   
and spread out in the sunshine to ripen4
 ,do not cut the stalks away until you  
are ready to store the corms4 ,then cut 
off each stalk about two inches from its
 junction with the corm4 ,when the roots
 seem well dried out1 put them in paper 
bags containing perfectly dry sawdust or
 buckwheat shells1 and hang them in a   
dry place where the frost will not get  
at them4 ,i would not advise storing    
them in the cellar1 as they generally   
mould or mildew there4  ,most varieties 
increase quite rapidly4 ,you will find  
several new corms in fall1 taking the   
place of the old one planted in spring4 
,often there will be scores of little   

fellows the size of a pea1 clustered    
about the larger corms4 ,these should be
 saved1 and planted out next spring4    
,sow them close together in rows1 as you
 would wheat4 ,the following year they  
will bloom4  ,so extensively is the     
,gladiolus grown at the present time    
that enough to fill a good-sized bed can
 be bought for a small sum4 ,and in no  
other way can you invest a little money 
and be sure of such generous returns4   
,what the ,geranium is to the           
window-garden that the ,gladiolus is to 
the outdoor garden1 and one is of as    
easy culture as the other4              
,illustration3 ,a ,,garden ,,glimpse    
,some of the choicest varieties are sold
 at a high price4 ,one reason for this  
is--the finest varieties are slow to    
increase1 and it takes a long time to   
get much of a stock together4 ,this is  
why they are so rare1 and so expensive4 
,but many of them are well worth all    
that is asked for them4  ,you may have a
 mixed collection of a thousand plants  

and fail to find a worthless variety    
among them4 ,indeed1 some of the very   
finest flowers ,i have ever had have    
been grown from collections that cost so
 little that one hardly expected to find
 anything but the commonest flowers     
among them4     ,,lilies   ,the ,rose1  
like the ,lily1 is a general favorite4  
,it has more than once disputed the     
claim of its rival to the title of      
,queen of ,flowers1 and though it has   
never succeeded in taking the place of  
the latter in the estimation of the     
average flower-lover1 it occupies a     
position in the floral world that no    
other flower dare aspire to4  ,this     
plant does well only in soils that have 
the best of drainage4 ,water1 if allowed
 to stand about its roots in spring1    
will soon be the death of it4           
,therefore1 in planting it be sure to   
choose a location that is naturally well
 drained1 or provide artificial drainage
 that will make up for the lack of      
natural drainage4 ,this is an item you  

cannot afford to overlook if you want to
 grow the finest varieties of ,lilies in
 your garden4 ,some of our native       
,lilies grow on low lands1 and do well  
there1 but none of the choicer kinds    
would long survive under such           
conditions4 ,the probabilities are that 
if we planted them there we would never 
see anything more of them4  ,the ideal  
soil for the ,lily seems to be a fine   
loam4 ,i have grown good ones1 however1 
in a soil containing considerable clay  
and gravel4 ,this was on a sidehill     
where drainage was perfect4 ,had the    
location been lower1 or a level one1    
very likely the plants would not have   
done so well4  ,the bulbs should be put 
into the ground as early in ,september  
as possible4  ,on no account allow the  
bulbs to be exposed to the air4 ,if you 
do1 they will rapidly part with the     
moisture stored up in their scales1 and 
this is their life-blood4  ,it is a good
 plan to put a handful of clean1 coarse 
sand about each bulb at planting-time4  

,if barnyard manure is used1--and there 
is nothing better in the way of         
fertilizer for any bulb1--be sure that  
it is old and well rotted4 ,on no       
account should fresh manure be allowed  
to come in contact with a ,lily4 ,if    
barnyard manure is not to be had1 use   
bonemeal4 ,mix it well with the soil    
before putting the bulbs into it4       
,bulbs of ordinary size should be       
planted about eight inches below the    
surface4 ,if in groups1 about a foot    
apart4  ,the best place for ,lilies1 so 
far as show goes1 is among shrubbery1 or
 in the border4  ,below ,i give a list  
of the best varieties for general       
cultivation1 with a brief description of
 each3  ,auratum 7the ,gold-,banded     
,lily74--,probably the most popular     
member of the family1 though by no means
 the most beautiful4 ,flowers white1    
dotted with crimson1 with a gold band   
running through each petal4  ,speciosum 
album4--,a beautiful pure-white variety4
 ,deliciously fragrant4  ,speciosum     

rubrum 7the ,crimson-,banded            
,lily74--,flowers white with a red band 
down each petal4  ,brownsii4--,a        
splendid variety4 ,flowers very large1  
and trumpet-shaped4 ,chocolate-purple   
outside1 pure white within1 with dark   
brown stamens that contrast finely with 
the whiteness of the inner part of the  
petals4  ,tigrinum 7,tiger ,lily74--,one
 of the hardiest of all ,lilies4        
,flowers orange-red1 spotted with       
brownish-black4 ,this will succeed where
 none of the others will4 ,should be    
given a place in all gardens4           
,superbum4--,the finest of all our      
native ,lilies4 ,orange flowers1 spotted
 with purple4 ,often grows to a height  
of eight feet1 therefore is well adapted
 to prominent positions in the border4  
,illustration3 ,,auratum ,,lily  ,while 
the ,lily of the ,valley is1 strictly   
speaking1 not a ,lily1 it deserves      
mention here4 ,it is one of the most    
beautiful flowers we grow1 of the purest
 white1 and with the most delightful    

fragrance1 and foliage that admirably   
sets off the exquisite loveliness of its
 flowers4 ,no garden that lives up to   
its privileges will be without it4 ,it  
does best in a shady place4 ,almost any 
soil seems to suit it4 ,it is very      
hardy4 ,it spreads rapidly1 sending up a
 flower-stalk from every pip4 ,when the 
ground becomes completely matted with   
it1 it is well to go over the bed and   
cut out portions here and there4 ,the   
roots thus cut away can be broken apart 
and used in the formation of new beds1  
of which there can hardly be too many4  
,the roots of the old plants will soon  
fill the places from which these were   
taken1 and the old bed will be all the  
better for its thinning-out4 ,coming so 
early in spring1 we appreciate this most
 beautiful plant more than we do any    
flower of the later season4 ,and no     
flower of any time can excel it in      
daintiness1 purity1 and sweetness4      
,,plants ,,for ,,special ,,purposes     
,amateur gardeners are always wanting   

plants for some special purpose1 and1   
for their benefit1 ,i propose to devote 
this chapter to special-purpose         
information4  ,what shall we grow to    
shade doors and windows8 ,we want       
something that will grow rapidly4 ,if a 
flowering vine1 all the better1 but     
shade is the all-important              
consideration4  ,the best large-growing 
vine for this purpose1 all things       
considered1 is the ,wild ,cucumber4 ,no 
other annual vine exceeds it in rapidity
 of growth4 ,it will grow twenty or     
twenty-five feet in a season1 if given  
something to support it to that height1 
therefore it is very useful about the   
second-story windows1 which height few  
of our annual vines attain4 ,it has very
 bright-green1 pretty foliage1 somewhat 
resembling that of the native ,grape1   
though not so large4 ,about midsummer it
 comes into bloom4 ,its flowers are     
white1--delicate1 fringy little things1 
in spikes1 with a very agreeable        
fragrance1 especially in the morning    

when wet with dew1--and there are so    
many of them that the vine looks as if  
drifted over with a fall of snow4 ,the  
plant has tendrils by which it attaches 
itself to anything with which it comes  
in contact1 consequently strings1       
latticework1 or wire netting answer     
equally well for its support4 ,its      
tendency is to go straight up1 if       
whatever support is given encourages it 
to do so1 but if you think advisable to 
divert it from its upward course all you
 have to do is to stretch strings in    
whatever direction you want it to grow1 
and it will follow them4 ,its flowers   
are followed by balloon-shaped fruit1   
covered with prickly spines--little     
ball-shaped cucumbers1 hence the popular
 name of the plant4 ,when the seeds     
ripen1 the ball or pod bursts open1 and 
the black seeds are shot out with       
considerable force1 often to a distance 
of twenty feet or more4 ,in this way the
 plant soon spreads itself all over the 
garden1 and next spring you will have   

seedling plants by the hundred4 ,it soon
 becomes a wild plant1 and is often seen
 growing all along the roadside1 and    
never quite so much at home as when it  
finds a thicket of bushes to clamber    
over4 ,it has one drawback1 however1    
which will be especially noticeable when
 the plant is domesticated3 ,its early  
leaves ripen and fall off while those   
farther up the vine are in their prime1 
and remain so until frost comes4 ,but   
this defect can easily be remedied by   
growing some tall plant at the base of  
the vines to hide their nakedness4      
,another most excellent vine is the good
 old ,morning ,glory1 with its blue1    
purple1 violet1 pink1 carmine1 and white
 flowers produced in such profusion that
 they literally cover its upper branches
 during the early part of the day4 ,this
 is a very satisfactory vine to train   
about door and window4 ,do not give it  
ordinary twine as a support1 as the     
weight of the vines1 when well          
developed1 is almost sure to break it   

down4 ,stout cord1 such as is used in   
binding grain1 is the best thing ,i know
 of1 as it is rather rough1 thus        
enabling the vine to take hold of it    
with good effect4 ,this is a rapid      
grower1 and a wonderfully free bloomer1 
and it will give you flowers throughout 
the season4 ,it is much showier than the
 ,wild ,cucumber1 but its foliage lacks 
the delicacy which characterizes that   
plant4  ,another good vine for covering 
porches1 verandas1 and summer-houses1 is
 the ,japan ,hop4 ,this plant--it is an 
annual1 like the other two of which     
mention has been made--has foliage of a 
rich1 dark green1 broadly and           
irregularly blotched and marbled with   
creamy white and pale yellow4 ,it grows 
rapidly1 and gives a dense shade4  ,i   
would like a sort of hedge1 or screen1  
between the flower and the vegetable    
garden4 ,what plants would you advise   
for this purpose8  ,the ,zinnia is an   
excellent plant where a low hedge is    
desired4 ,it averages a height of three 

feet4 ,it is compact and symmetrical in 
habit1 branching quite close to the     
ground4 ,it is a rapid grower1 and of   
the very easiest culture4 ,it comes into
 bloom in ,july1 and continues to       
produce great quantities of flowers1    
shaped like miniature ,dahlias1 in red1 
scarlet1 pink1 yellow1 orange1 and      
white1 until frost comes4 ,it makes a   
most gorgeous show4  ,kochia1 more      
commonly known as ,burning ,bush or     
,mexican ,fire-,plant1 is a charming    
thing all through the season4 ,in summer
 it is a pleasing green4 ,in fall it    
turns to a brilliant red1 hence its     
popular names1 as given above4 ,its     
habit is very compact1 and one of great 
symmetry4 ,if the plants are set about a
 foot apart1 and in two rows1--these    
rows a foot apart1--you will have a low 
hedge that will be as smooth as one of  
,arbor ,vitae after the gardener has    
given it its annual shearing4 ,when the 
bush takes on its autumnal coloring it  
is as showy as a plant can well be1 and 

is always sure of attracting attention1 
and being greatly admired4  ,amaranthus 
is another very pleasing plant for hedge
 purposes4 ,it grows to a height of     
about four feet4 ,some varieties have a 
dark1 bronze-green foliage1 others      
foliage of a dull1 rich ,indian-red1    
while some are yellow-green--quite rare 
among plants of this class4 ,the        
flowers1 which are small1 individually1 
are thickly set along pendant stems1 and
 give the effect of ropes of chenille4  
,in color they are a dull red1 not at   
all showy in the sense of brilliance1   
but really charming when seen dropping  
in great profusion against the richly   
colored foliage4 ,our grandmothers grew 
the original varieties of this plant    
under the name of ,prince's ,plume1     
,prince's ,feather1 or ,love ,lies      
,bleeding4 ,but since the florists have 
taken it in hand1 and greatly improved  
it1 it no longer retains the good old   
names which always meant something4 ,to 
secure the best results with this plant1

 when grown as a hedge or screen1 set it
 in rows about a foot apart1 each way1  
and use some of the dwarf sorts for the 
front row4 ,or a flowering plant of     
contrasting color--like the ,nasturtium1
 or the double yellow ,marigold1 or the 
velvety ,african variety1 with flowers  
of a dark maroon shading to             
blackish-brown--can be grown at its     
base1 with fine effect4  ,illustration3 
,,the ,,odds ,,and ,,ends ,,corner      
,sweet ,peas make a good screen if given
 proper support1 and planted thickly4   
,i would like a large group or bed of   
ornamental foliaged plants on the lawn1 
but have grown rather tired of ,cannas  
and ,caladiums4 ,what would you suggest8
 ,i don't want anything hard to grow4   
,if very large plants are wanted1 ,i    
would advise1 as best of all1 ,ricinus1 
better known1 perhaps1 as ,castor ,bean1
 or ,castor ,plant4 ,this is an annual  
of wonderfully vigorous growth4 ,it     
often reaches a height of ten feet1 in  
good soil1 with a corresponding spread  

of branches4 ,its leaves are often a    
yard across1 of a dark coppery bronze1  
with a purplish metallic lustre that    
makes the plant very striking4 ,the best
 effect is secured by growing four or   
five plants in a group4 ,none of the    
tropical plants that have come into     
prominence in gardening1 during the past
 ten or twelve years1 are nearly as     
effective as this easily-grown annual1  
whose seeds sell at five cents a        
package4 ,for a very prominent location 
on the lawn or anywhere about the       
home-grounds no better plant could be   
selected4  ,the ,amaranthus advised for 
hedge use makes a very showy circular   
bed on the lawn when grown in large     
masses1 in the centre1 surrounded with  
flowering plants of a strongly          
contrasting but harmonious color4 ,the  
,calliopsis1 rich golden-yellow marked  
with brown1 combines charmingly with the
 dull1 deep1 rich reds which            
characterize the foliage and flowers of 
the most desirable varieties of this too

 much neglected annual4 ,there are new  
varieties advertised of rather dwarf    
habit1 with golden-green foliage1 that  
could be used about the red-leaved kinds
 with fine effect4  ,i would like a bed 
of very brilliant flowers for the front 
yard4 ,can't have many1 for ,i haven't  
time to take care of them1 so want those
 which will give the most show for the  
least trouble4 ,would like something so 
bright that it will compel people to    
stop and look at it4 ,what shall ,i get8
  ,an exceedingly brilliant combination 
can be made by the use of scarlet       
,salvia1 as the centre of a bed six or  
eight feet across1 with ,calliopsis     
surrounding it4 ,the scarlet and yellow 
of these two flowers will make the place
 fairly blaze with color1 and they will 
continue to bloom until frost comes4    
,they require next to no care4  ,the    
annual ,phlox makes a fine show if      
proper care is taken in the arrangement 
of the various colors with a view to    
contrast4 ,the pale rose variety        

combines beautifully with the pure      
whites and pale yellows4 ,a bed of these
 three colors alone will be found much  
more satisfactory than one in which a   
larger number of colors are used4 ,set  
each color in a row by itself4 ,such a  
bed will compel persons to stop and     
admire it1 but they will do it for the  
sake of its beauty rather than its great
 brilliance4  ,petunias are excellent   
plants for large beds where a strong    
show of color is desired4 ,they bloom   
early1 continue through the season1 and 
require very little care4  ,the ,shirley
 ,poppy makes a brave show about the    
last of ,july1 but after that it soon   
dies4 ,if it were an all-season bloomer 
it would be one of our most popular     
plants for producing a brilliant effect4
 ,i would advise using it1 and filling  
the bed in which it grew with other     
plants1 after its flowering period was  
over4 ,its rich colors and satiny       
texture make it a plant that always     
attracts attention4  ,scarlet ,geraniums

 are used a great deal where a strong   
color-show is desired1 but they are not 
as satisfactory as many other plants    
because of their ragged look1 after a   
little1 unless constantly given care4   
,the first flowers in truss will fade1  
and their discolored petals will spoil  
the effect of the flowers that come     
after them if they are allowed to       
remain4 ,it is not much of a task to go 
over the plants and pull out these faded
 flowers every1 day1 but we are not     
likely to do this4 ,i prefer single     
,geraniums to double ones for garden    
use1 because they drop their old petals1
 and never take on the ragged appearance
 which characterizes the ordinary       
bedding ,geranium4  ,i would like a low 
bed--that is1 a bed near the path where 
it will be looked down upon4 ,tall      
plants would be out of place there4     
,tell me of a few of the best kinds for 
such a location4  ,the ,portulacca is   
well adapted to such use1 as it never   
grows to be more than three or four     

inches in height1 but spreads in a      
manner to make it look like a green     
carpet1 upon which it displays its      
flowers of red1 rose1 scarlet1 yellow   
and white with very vivid effect4 ,this 
plant might well be called a vegetable  
salamander1 as it flourishes in dry1 hot
 locations where other plants would     
utterly fail4 ,it fairly revels in the  
hot sunshine of midsummer4  ,the good   
old ,verbena is another very desirable  
plant for a low bed4 ,it is of spreading
 habit1 blooms profusely and constantly1
 and comes in a wide range of beautiful 
colors4  ,the ,ageratum is a lovely     
plant for a low bed1 with its great     
masses of soft lavender flowers4 ,fine  
effects are secured by using dark yellow
 ,coleus or golden ,pansies as an       
edging1 these colors contrasting        
exquisitely with the dainty             
lavender-blue of the ,ageratum4  ,what  
flowers shall we grow to cut from8      
,would like something that is not       
coarse1 and something that will bloom   

for a long time1 and has long stems4    
,at the head of the list ,i would place 
the ,sweet ,pea4 ,this is a favorite1   
everywhere1 for cutting4 ,the most      
useful varieties are the delicate rose  
and white ones1 the pure whites1 the    
pale pinks1 the dainty lavenders1 and   
the soft primrose yellows4  ,the        
,nasturtium is an old favorite for      
cutting1 and a corner of every garden   
ought to be given up to a few plants of 
it for the special purpose of furnishing
 cut flowers4  ,the ,aster is a         
magnificent flower1--it seems to be     
growing better and better each year1 if 
such a thing is possible1--and nothing  
else among the annuals compares with it 
in lasting quality1 when cut4 ,if the   
water in which it is placed is changed  
daily1 it will last for two weeks1 and  
seem as fresh at the end of that time as
 when first cut4 ,the most useful       
variety for cutting is the ,branching   
,aster1 with stems a foot or more in    
length4 ,this makes the flowers of this 

class particularly useful for vases4 ,i 
would advise growing three colors1 when 
it is wanted solely for cutting--white1 
pale rose1 and delicate lavender4  ,the 
newer varieties of ,dahlia--especially  
the decorative section--are superb for  
cutting4 ,their flowers are not formal  
like those of the old double kinds1 and 
being borne on long stalks1 they can be 
arranged very gracefully4 ,like the     
,aster1 they last well4 ,they will be   
found among the most useful of our late 
flowers for large vases1 and where      
striking and brilliant effects of color 
are desired4  ,the ,gladiolus is also   
well adapted to cutting1 and is very    
effective when used in tall vases1 the  
entire stalk being taken4  ,scabiosa1   
often known as ,mourning ,bride1 is an  
excellent plant for vase-use1 and       
deserves more attention than it has     
heretofore enjoyed4 ,its flowers are    
quite unlike most other annuals in      
color1 and will be appreciated on that  
account4 ,the dark purple varieties     

combine delightfully with those of a    
lighter tone in yellow1 and with pure   
whites4 ,as the blossoms are produced on
 long stems1 they dispose themselves    
very gracefully when used in rather deep
 vases4  ,every garden should have      
several plants of ,mignonette in it1    
grown for the especial purpose of       
cutting from4 ,this is one of the most  
fragrant flowers we have among the      
annuals4  ,for small vases--little vases
 for the breakfast table1 or the desk1  
and for gifts to friends--one ought to  
grow quantities of ,heliotropes1 ,tea   
,roses1 and ,pansies4  ,to cut from1    
early in spring1 nothing is lovelier    
than the ,lily of the ,valley4  ,for    
larger vases1 the ,dicentra is always   
pleasing1 coming close after the ,lily  
of the ,valley4 ,cut it with a good deal
 of foliage1 and be careful to give each
 stalk ample room in which to adjust    
itself4 ,a vase with a flaring top is   
what this flower ought to have1 as its  
stalks have just the curve that fits the

 flare4 ,a straight vase obliges it to  
stand up so primly that half the charm  
of the flower is destroyed4  ,for late  
fall cutting1 there is no other flower  
quite equal to the ,cosmos4 ,the pink   
and white varieties are lovely when cut 
by the branch1 and used in large vases4 
,they seem especially adapted to church 
decoration4  ,we want some flowers that 
will bloom late in the season4 ,are     
there any that can be depended on after 
early frosts8  ,yes4 ,first on the list 
,i would name the ,aster4 ,this sturdy  
annual is seldom at its best before the 
first frosts1 and can be considered in  
its prime during the first half of      
,october4 ,and it will last until cold  
weather sets in4  ,ten ,week ,stock--the
 ,gillyflower of grandmother's          
garden--is a late bloomer4 ,the snows of
 ,november often find it full of        
flowers1 and are powerless to injure it4
 ,it is delightfully fragrant1 and      
particularly adapted to cutting1 because
 of its long spikes of bloom4 ,it comes 

in white1 rosy-purple1 red1 and         
sulphur-yellow4  ,the ,marguerite       
,carnation deserves a place in every    
garden because of its great beauty1 and 
its late-flowering habit4 ,while not all
 the plants grown from seed will give   
double flowers1 a large share of them   
will be so1 and in form1 size1 and color
 they will compare very favorably with  
the greenhouse varieties of this        
favorite flower4 ,most of them will have
 the true ,carnation fragrance4 ,for    
choice little bouquets1 for home use1 or
 to give your especial friends nothing  
can be more satisfactory4 ,you can      
expect a dozen flowers from each plant  
where you would get but one from the    
greenhouse sorts4     ,,arbors1         
,,summer-,,houses1 ,,pergolas1 ,,and    
,,other ,,garden ,,features   ,few      
persons who daily pass attractive homes 
in the suburban districts of our large  
cities and the outlying country1 realize
 that much of their charm is due to     
effects which require a comparatively   

small outlay in dollars and cents4 ,good
 taste1 combined with a degree of skill 
that is within reach of most of us1     
represent the chief part of the         
investment4 ,and yet--these little1     
inexpensive things are the very ones    
that produce the pleasing effects we are
 all striving after in our efforts to   
make home attractive4 ,most of them     
convey an impression of being made for  
use1 not show4 ,they are in a class with
 the broad-seated1 wide-armed old       
hickory rockers with which we make our  
modern verandas comfortable nowadays1   
and the hammock swung in shady places1  
wherein one may lie and take his ease1  
and forget everything but the fact that 
it is sometimes a pleasant thing to be  
lazy--frankly1 unblushingly lazy4 ,it is
 a healthy indication in our ,american  
life when so many persons go in for     
getting all the comfort they can from   
outdoors in summer4 ,every home whose   
grounds are large enough to accommodate 
them ought to have benches here and     

there1 made for comfort1 rather than    
looks1 garden-seats1 summer-houses--all 
suggestive of rest and relaxation4 ,in  
this chapter ,i propose to briefly      
describe a few such home-made features1 
hoping that the man or boy who has the  
knack of using tools to advantage1      
actuated by a desire to make            
home-environments pleasant1 may be led  
to copy some of them4  ,let me say1     
right here1 that the work demanded in   
the construction of rustic features     
about the home is just the kind of work 
,i would encourage boys to undertake4   
,it will be found so enjoyable that it  
will seem more like play than labor4    
,there is the pleasure of planning      
it--the sense of responsibility and     
importance which comes to the lad who   
sets out to do something all by himself1
 and the delightful consciousness that  
what is done may result in making home  
more home-like1 and add to the comfort  
and pleasure of those whose love and    
companionship go to make home the best  

place on earth4  ,illustration3 ,,summer
 ,,house  ,in constructing              
summer-houses1 bridges1 and other rustic
 work1 there should be a careful plan   
made before the work is begun4 ,never   
work by guess4 ,go at the undertaking   
precisely as the mechanic sets about the
 construction of a house4 ,draw a       
diagram of what the structure is to be4 
,a rough diagram will answer quite as   
well as any1 provided it covers all     
particulars4  ,figure out just how much 
material the plan calls for4 ,get this  
on the ground before anything else is   
done4 ,the material required will be    
poles of different sizes and lengths1   
large and substantial nails1 a few      
planks for floors and benches--possibly 
tables--and shingles for covering such  
structures as need roofing in1 unless   
bark is used for this purpose4 ,of      
course bark gives more of a rustic look 
to a roof1 but it is not an easy matter 
to obtain a good quality of it1 and     
shingles1 stained a mossy-green or dark 

brown1 will harmonize charmingly with   
the rest of the building1 and furnish a 
much more substantial roof than it is   
possible to secure with even the best   
kind of bark4  ,if possible1 use cedar  
poles in preference to any other1 for   
several reasons3 ,first of all1 they are
 more ornamental1 because of their bark1
 which is more permanent than that of   
any other wood4 ,they are light1 and    
easy to handle1 and take a nail as      
readily as pine4 ,and then--their       
aromatic odor makes it a constant       
delight to work among them to those who 
like sweet1 fresh1 wild-woody smells4   
,but all kinds of poles can be          
substituted for cedar if that is not    
obtainable4 ,the kind of wood used in   
the construction of rustic work is not a
 matter of prime importance1 though it  
may be1 and is1 largely a matter of     
taste4 ,but when we cannot do as we     
would like to we must do the best we    
can4  ,provide yourself with a good saw1
 a hammer1 a square1 and a mitre-box4   

,these will be all the tools you will be
 likely to need4 ,use spikes to fasten  
the larger timbers together1 and smaller
 nails for the braces and ornamental    
work of the design4 ,speaking of        
ornamental work reminds me to say that  
the more crooked1 gnarled1 and twisted  
limbs and branches you can secure1 the  
better will be the effect1 as a general 
thing1 for formality must be avoided as 
far as possible4 ,we are not working    
according to a plan of ,nature's but we 
are using ,nature's material1 and we    
must use it as it comes from ,nature's  
hand in order to make it most effective4
  ,take pains in making joints4 ,if     
everything is cut to the proper length  
and angle1 it will fit together neatly1 
and only a neat job will be             
satisfactory4  ,let me advise the reader
 who concludes to try his hand at the   
construction of rustic work to confine  
his selection of design to something not
 very elaborate4 ,leave that for wealthy
 people who can afford to have whatever 

their taste inclines them to1 without   
regard to cost1 and who give the work   
over to the skilled workman4 ,i am      
considering matters from the standpoint 
of the home-maker1 who believes we get  
more real pleasure out of what we make  
with our own hands than from that which 
we hire some one to make for us4  ,in   
one of the illustrations accompanying   
this chapter is shown a combination     
summer-house and arbor that is very     
easily made1 and that will cost but     
little4 ,the picture gives so clear an  
idea of framework and general detail    
that a description does not seem        
necessary4 ,as a considerable weight    
will have to be supported by the roof1  
when vines have been trained over it1 it
 will be necessary to use stout poles   
for uprights1 and to run substantial    
braces from them to the cross-poles     
overhead4 ,the built-in seats on each   
side add greatly to the comfort of the  
structure1 and invite us to little halts
 by the wayside1 in which to talk things

 over1 or to quiet hours with a book    
that would lose half its charm if read  
indoors1 as a companion4 ,the original  
of this picture is built over a path    
that is sometimes used as a driveway1   
and is known as the outdoor parlor by   
the family on whose grounds it stands4  
,you will find some member of the family
 there on every pleasant day1 throughout
 the entire season1 for it is fitted out
 with hammocks and swinging seats1 and a
 table large enough to serve as         
tea-table1 on occasion1 with a cover    
that lifts and discloses a snug box     
inside in which books and magazines can 
be left without fear of injury in case  
of shower or damp weather4 ,tea served  
in such surroundings takes on a flavor  
that it never has indoors4 ,the general 
design of this summer-house1 as will    
readily be seen by the illustration1 is 
simplicity itself1 and can very easily  
be copied by the amateur workman4  ,it  
often happens that there are ravines or 
small depressions on the home-grounds   

over which a rustic bridge could be     
thrown with pleasing effect1 from the   
ornamental standpoint1 and prove a great
 convenience from the standpoint of     
practicality4 ,if there is a brook      
there1 all the better1 but few of us1   
however1 are fortunate enough to be     
owners of grounds possessing so charming
 a feature1 and our bridges must be more
 ornamental in themselves than would be 
necessary if there was water to add its 
attraction to the spot4  ,illustration3 
,a ,,pergola ,,suggestion  ,one of the  
most delightful summer-houses ,i have   
ever seen was largely the result of an  
accident4 ,an old tree standing near a  
path was broken down in a storm1 some   
years ago1 and a portion of its trunk   
was made use of as a support for one    
side of the roof4 ,on the opposite side1
 rustic arches were used4 ,the roof was 
shingled1 and stained a dark green1 thus
 bringing it into color-harmony with its
 surroundings4 ,over the roof a         
,wistaria was trained1 and this has     

grown to such size that but few of the  
shingles are to be seen through its     
branches4 ,about this spot the home-life
 of the family centres from ,april to   
late ,october4 ,we would miss it more   
than any part of the dwelling1 its owner
 and builder said to me1 when ,i asked  
permission to photograph it4 ,i could   
readily understand the regard of the    
family for so beautiful a place1 which1 
,i have no doubt1 cost less than one of 
the great flower-beds that we see on the
 grounds of wealthy people1 and see     
without admiring1 so formal and         
artificial are they1 and so suggestive  
of professional work duplicated in other
 gardens until the very monotony of them
 becomes an offence to the eye of the   
man or woman who believes in            
individuality and originality4  ,rustic 
fences between lots are great           
improvements on the ordinary boundary   
fence1 especially if vines are trained  
over them4 ,they need not be elaborate  
in design to be attractive4 ,if made of 

poles from which the bark has been      
taken1 they should be stained a dark    
green or brown to bring them into       
harmony with their surroundings4        
,screen-frames of rustic work1 as a     
support for vines1 to hide unsightly    
outbuildings1 are far preferable to the 
usual one of wood with wire netting     
stretched over it4 ,they will cost no   
more than one of lattice1 and will be   
vastly more pleasing1 in every respect4 
,gateways can be made exceedingly       
pleasing by setting posts at each side  
of the gate1 and fashioning an arch to  
connect them1 at the top4 ,train a vine1
 like ,ampelopsis1 over the upper part  
of the framework1 and you make even the 
simplest gateway attractive4  ,a        
garden-seat1 with a canopy of vines to  
shade it1 may not be any more           
comfortable1 as a seat1 than any wooden 
bench1 but the touch of beauty and grace
 imparted by the vine that roofs it     
makes it far more enjoyable than an     
expensive seat without the vine would be

 to the person who has a taste for      
pleasing and attractive things1 simply  
because it pleases the eye by its       
outlines1 thus appealing to the sense of
 the beautiful4 ,beauty is cheap1 when  
looked at from the right standpoint1    
which is never one of dollars and cents4
 ,it is just these little things about a
 place that do so much to make it       
home-like1 as you will readily see if1  
when you find a place that pleases you1 
you take the trouble to analyze the     
secret of its attractiveness4  ,the     
pergola has not been much in evidence   
among us until of late4 ,a rapidly      
increasing taste for the attractive     
features of old-world1 outdoor life in  
sunny countries where much of the time  
is spent outside the dwelling1 and the  
introduction of the ,italian garden     
idea1 have given it a popularity in     
,america that makes it a rival of the   
arbor or summer-house1 and bids fair to 
make it a thing of permanence among us4 
,the question is frequently asked by    

those who have read about pergolas1 but 
have never seen one1 as to wherein they 
differ from the ordinary arbor4 ,the    
difference is more in location1         
material1 and manner of construction    
than anything else4 ,they are generally 
built of timber that can be given a     
coating of paint1 with more or less     
ornamental pillars or supports and      
rafters1 and are constructed along      
definite architectural lines4 ,they are1
 in fact1 ornamental structures over    
which vines are to be trained loosely   
with a view to tempering the sunshine   
rather than excluding it4 ,the framework
 of the arbor1 as a general thing1 is   
considered secondary to the effect      
produced by it when the vines we plant  
about it are developed4 ,but1 unlike the
 ,americanized pergola1 the arbor is    
almost always located in a retired or   
inconspicuous part of the home-grounds1 
and is seldom found connected with the  
dwelling4 ,to get the benefit of the    
arbor1 or the summer-house we evolve    

from it1 we must go to it1 while the    
pergola1 as adapted by most of us1      
brings the attractive features of       
out-door life to the house1 thus        
combining out- and in-door life more    
intimately than heretofore4 ,one of the 
illustrations accompanying this chapter 
shows a very simple pergola             
framework--one that can be built        
cheaply1 and by any man or boy who is at
 all handy with tools1 and can be used  
as a plan to work from by anyone who    
desires to attach a modification of the 
pergola proper to the dwelling1 for the 
purpose of furnishing shade to portions 
of it not provided with verandas4 ,it   
will require the exercise of but little 
imagination to enable one to see what a 
charming feature of the home such a     
structure will be when vines have been  
trained over it4 ,there are many homes  
that would be wonderfully improved by   
the addition of something of this kind1 
with very little trouble and expense4   
,it is to be hoped that many a housewife

 can prevail on the men-folks to        
interest themselves on pergola-building 
on a small scale1 as indicated in the   
illustration1 for practical as well as  
ornamental reasons4 ,anything that will 
take the occupants of the dwelling out  
of doors is to be encouraged4           
,especially would the women of the      
household enjoy a vine-shaded addition  
of this kind1 during the intervals of   
leisure that come during the day1 and   
the head of the family would find it an 
ideal place in which to smoke his       
evening pipe4 ,in several respects it   
can be made much more satisfactory than 
a veranda4 ,it can be made              
larger--roomier1 and there will be more 
of an out-door atmosphere about it      
because of its airiness1 and the play of
 light and shade through the vines that 
clamber overhead4 ,pergolas of elaborate
 design need not be described here1 as  
they properly belong to homes not made  
attractive by the individual efforts of 
the home owner4 ,they are better adapted

 to the grounds of wealthy people1 who  
are not obliged to consider expense1 and
 who are not actively interested in the 
development of the home by themselves4  
,illustration3 ,a ,,simple ,,pergola    
,,framework  ,what vines would ,i advise
 for use about arbors1 summer-houses1   
and pergolas8  ,the ,wild ,grape1 though
 not much used1 is one of our best      
native vines4 ,it has the merit of rapid
 growth1 entire hardiness1 luxuriant    
foliage and delightful habit1 and when  
in bloom it has a fragrance that is as  
exquisite as it is indescribable--one of
 those vague1 elusive1 and yet powerful 
odors so characteristic of spring       
flowers4 ,you will smell it--the air    
will be full of it--and yet it will     
puzzle you to locate it4 ,the wind will 
blow from you and it will be gone4 ,then
 a breeze will blow your way1 and the   
air will suddenly be overpoweringly     
sweet with the scent shaken free from   
blossoms so small as to be hardly       
noticeable unless one makes a careful   

search for them4 ,then1 too1 the fruit  
is not only attractive to the eye in    
fall1 but pleasant to the taste of those
 who delight in the flavor of wild      
things1 among whom we must class the    
robins1 who will linger about the vine  
until the last berry is gone4           
,illustration3 ,,gardener',s            
,,tool-,,house  ,another most excellent 
vine for covering these structures is   
our native ,ampelopsis1 better known as 
,american ,ivy1 or ,virginia ,creeper4  
,this vine is of exceedingly rapid      
growth1 and will accomplish more in one 
season than most other vines do in two  
or three years4 ,its foliage is         
beautiful at all times1 but especially  
so in late autumn when it takes on a    
brilliance that makes it a rival of the 
flower4 ,in fact1 every leaf of it seems
 all at once to become a flower1 glowing
 with scarlet and maroon of varying     
shades1 with here and there a touch of  
bronze to afford contrast and heighten  
the intensity of the other colors4 ,this

 vine is perhaps the best of all vines  
for use on rustic structures1 because it
 takes hold of rough poles and posts    
with stout little tendrils or           
sucker-like discs which ask for no      
assistance from us in the way of        
support4  ,another most charming vine is
 ,clematis paniculata4 ,this is a       
variety of the ,clematis family of      
comparatively recent introduction1 quite
 unlike the large-flowering class4 ,it  
has white flowers1 small individually1  
but produced in such enormous quantities
 that the upper portions of the vine    
seem to be covered with foam1 or a light
 fall of snow4 ,they will entirely hide 
the foliage with their dainty1 airy     
grace1 and you will declare1 when you   
first see the plant in full bloom1 that 
it is the most beautiful thing you ever 
saw in the way of a vine4 ,and not the  
least of its merits is its habit of     
flowering at a time when most vines have
 passed into the sere-and-yellow-leaf   
period4 ,september and ,october see it  

in its prime4 ,its foliage1 of dark1    
rich1 glossy green1 furnishes a most    
pleasing background against which its   
countless panicles of white bloom stand 
out with most striking and delightful   
effect4 ,i have no knowledge of a more  
floriferous vine1 and ,i know of no more
 beautiful one4 ,as a covering for the  
pergola attached to the house it is     
unrivalled4  ,in the southern belt of   
our northern states1 where the ,wistaria
 is hardy enough to withstand the       
winter1 no more satisfactory flowering  
vine can be chosen for a pergola        
covering4 ,its habit of growth and      
flowering seems perfectly in harmony    
with the primary idea of the pergola4   
,it will furnish all the shade that is  
needed without shutting out the sunshine
 entirely1 and its pendant clusters of  
lavender-blue flowers are never more    
pleasing than when seen hanging between 
the cross-bars of the pergola4  ,if the 
person who builds a summer-house or a   
pergola is impatient for results it will

 be well to make use of annual vines for
 covering it the first season1 though   
something of a more permanent nature    
should always be planned for4 ,one of   
our best annuals1 so far as rapidity of 
growth is concerned1 is the ,wild       
,cucumber1 of which mention was made in 
the preceding chapter4 ,because of its  
rapid development1 the usefulness of the
 plant for immediate effects will be    
readily understood4 ,but it is valuable 
only as a substitute for something more 
substantial and should not be depended  
on after the first season4 ,it lacks the
 dignity and strength of a permanent    
vine4  ,the ,morning ,glory will be     
found very effective for a first-season 
covering4 ,this vine is prodigal in its 
production of flowers4 ,every sunny day1
 throughout the season1 it will be      
covered with blossoms1 so many in number
 that they make a veritable glory of the
 forenoon hours4  ,another excellent    
annual is the ,japan ,hop4 ,this will   
perhaps afford better satisfaction than 

the ,wild ,cucumber or the ,morning     
,glory1 because its foliage bears some  
resemblance to that of the hardy vines  
of which ,i have spoken4 ,in other      
words1 it has more substance and        
dignity1 and therefore seems more in    
harmony with the structure over which it
 is trained4 ,its leaves have a         
variegation of creamy white on a dark   
green ground4 ,this makes it as         
ornamental as if it were a flowering    
plant4  ,every home ought to have its   
playhouse for children4 ,if fitted with 
screens to keep out mosquitoes1 the     
younger members of the family1          
especially the girls1 will literally    
live in it for six months of the year4  
,i would suggest fitting it with canvas 
curtains to shut out wind and rain4 ,i  
would also advise making it of good     
size1 for the children will take delight
 in entertaining visitors in it1 and a  
tiny structure is not convenient for the
 entertainment of company4 ,such a      
building can be made as ornamental as   

any arbor or pergola at slight cost1    
when vines are used to hide the         
shortcomings of its material and        
construction4 ,be sure it will be       
appreciated by the little folks1 and    
quite likely some of the children of a  
larger growth will dispute its occupancy
 with them1 at times1 if there is no    
other building of its kind about the    
place4     ,,carpet-,,bedding           
,carpet-,bedding is not the most        
artistic phase of gardening1 by any     
means1 but it has a great attraction for
 many persons who admire masses of      
harmonious and contrasting colors more  
than the individual beauty of a flower4 
,therefore a chapter on this subject    
will no doubt be gladly welcomed by     
those who have seen the striking effects
 secured by the use of plants having    
ornamental or richly colored foliage1 in
 our large public parks1 and on the     
grounds of the wealthy4  ,let me say1   
just here1 that the person who attempts 
what1 for want of a better name1 might  

be called pictorial gardening1 is wise  
if he selects a rather simple pattern1  
especially at the outset of his career  
in this phase of garden-work4 ,intricate
 and elaborate designs call for more    
skill in their successful working out   
than the amateur is likely to be master 
of1 and they demand a larger amount of  
time and labor than the average amateur 
florist will be likely to expend upon   
them4 ,and the fact should never be lost
 sight of that failure to give all the  
care needed brings about most           
discouraging results4 ,this being the   
case1 select a design in which the      
effect aimed at can be secured by broad 
masses of color1 depending almost wholly
 on color-contrast for pleasing results4
 ,bear in mind that this school of      
pictorial art belongs to the            
impressionistic rather than the         
pre-,raphaelite1 about which we hear so 
much nowadays1 and leave the fine work  
to the professional gardener1 or wait   
until you feel quite sure of your       

ability to attempt it with a reasonably 
good show of success4  ,some persons are
 under the impression that flowering    
plants can be used to good effect in    
carpet-bedding4 ,this is not the case1  
however4 ,in order to bring out a       
pattern or design fully and clearly1 it 
is absolutely necessary that we make use
 of plants which are capable of giving a
 solid color-effect4 ,this we obtain    
from foliage1 but very few flowering    
plants are prolific enough of bloom to  
give the desired result4 ,the effect    
will be thin and spotty1 so never depend
 on them4 ,quite often they can be used 
in combination with plants having       
ornamental foliage in such a manner as  
to secure pleasing results1 but they    
always play a secondary part in this    
phase of gardening4  ,the best plants to
 use in carpet-bedding are the          
following3  ,coleus1 in various shades  
of red1 maroon1 and scarlet1 light and  
dark yellow1 green and white1 and       
varieties in which colors and shades of 

color are picturesquely blended4        
,achyranthes1 low-growing plants in     
mixtures of red1 pink1 yellow and green4
  ,alternatheras1 similar to            
,achyranthes in habit1 but with red as a
 predominating color4 ,both are         
excellent for working out the finer     
details of a design4                    
,pyrethrum--,golden ,feather--with      
feathery foliage of a tawny yellow4     
,centaurea gymnocarpa1--,dusty          
,miller1--with finely-cut foliage of a  
cool gray4  ,geranium ,madame           
,salleroi--with pale green and white    
foliage4 ,this is a most excellent plant
 for use in carpet-bedding because of   
its close1 compact habit of growth1 and 
its very symmetrical shape which is     
retained throughout the entire season   
without shearing or pruning4  ,it must  
be borne in mind by the amateur florist 
that success in carpet-bedding depends  
nearly as much on the care given as on  
the material used4 ,in order to bring   
out a design sharply1 it is necessary to

 go over the bed at least twice a week  
and cut away all branches that show a   
tendency to straggle across the boundary
 line of the various colors4 ,run your  
pruning shears along this line and      
ruthlessly cut away everything that is  
not where it belongs4 ,if this is not   
done1 your pattern will soon become     
blurred and indistinct4 ,if any         
intermingling of colors from across the 
line is allowed1 all sharpness of       
outline will be destroyed4  ,the plants 
must be clipped frequently to keep them 
dwarf and compact4 ,make it a point to  
keep the larger-growing kinds1 such as  
,coleus1 ,pyrethrum and ,centaurea1     
under six inches in height rather than  
over it4 ,alternatheras and ,achyranthes
 will need very little shearing1 as to  
top1 because of their habit of low      
growth4  ,in setting these plants in the
 bed1 be governed by the habit of each  
plant4 ,achyranthes and ,alternatheras1 
being the smallest1 should be put about 
four inches apart4 ,give the ,coleus    

about six inches of lee-way1 also the   
,centaurea4 ,allow eight inches for     
,madame ,salleroi ,geranium and         
,pyrethrum4 ,these will soon meet in the
 row and form a solid line or mass of   
foliage4  ,so many persons have asked   
for designs for carpet-bedding1 that ,i 
will accompany this chapter with several
 original with myself which have proved 
very satisfactory4 ,some of them may    
seem rather complicated1 but when one   
gets down to the business of laying them
 out1 the seeming complications will    
vanish4  ,in laying out all but the     
star-shaped and circular beds1 it is    
well to depend upon a square as the     
basis to work from4 ,decide on the size 
of bed you propose to have1 and then    
stake out a square as shown by the      
dotted lines in design ,no4 #a1 and work
 inside this square in filling in the   
details4 ,if this is done1 the work will
 not be a difficult one4  ,illustration3
 ,no4 #a4  ,design ,no4 #a will be found
 easy to make and admits of many        

pleasing combinations and modifications4
 ,each gardener who sees fit to adopt   
any of these designs should study out a 
color-scheme of his own4 ,knowing the   
colors of the material he has to work   
with it will not be difficult to arrange
 these colors to suit individual taste4 
,i think this will be more satisfactory 
than to give any arbitrary arrangement  
of colors1 for half the pleasure of     
gardening consists in originating things
 of this kind1 rather than copying what 
some one else has originated1 or of     
following instructions given by others4 
,this does not apply so much to designs 
for beds as it does to the colors we    
make use of in them4  ,illustration3    
,no4 #b4  ,in the designs accompanying  
this chapter it will be seen that simple
 plans are made capable of producing    
more elaborate effects by making use of 
the dotted lines4 ,indeed1 one can make 
these designs quite intricate by        
dividing the different spaces as        
outlined in ,no4 #b4 ,a plain centre    

with a plain point1 as shown in a1 shows
 the bed in its very simplest form4 ,in 
g1 c1 and d1 we see these points with   
three different arrangements suggested1 
and the dotted line in the central      
portion indicates a change that can be  
made there that will add considerably to
 the effectiveness of the design4 ,a    
little study of other designs will1 ,i  
think1 make them so plain that they can 
be worked out with but little trouble4  
,illustration3 ,no4 #c4  ,i would       
suggest that before deciding on any     
color-combinations1 a rough diagram be  
made of whatever bed you select and that
 this be colored to correspond with the 
material you have to work with4 ,seeing 
these colors side by side on paper will 
give you a better idea of the general   
effect that will result from any of your
 proposed combinations than you can get 
in any other way1 and to test them in   
this manner may prevent you from making 
some serious mistakes4  ,illustration3  
,no4 #d4  ,it will be necessary to go   

over the beds every day or two and      
remove all dead or dying leaves4        
,neatness is an item of the greatest    
importance in this phase of gardening1  
or any other1 for that matter4          
,illustration3 ,no4#e4  ,large plants   
can be used in the centre of any of     
these designs1 if one cares to do so1   
with very good effect4 ,for this purpose
 we have few plants that will give      
greater satisfaction than the ,dahlia4  
,scarlet ,salvia would be very effective
 if yellow ,coleus were used about it1  
but it would not please if surrounded   
with red ,coleus1 as the red of the     
plant and the red of the flower would   
not harmonize4 ,a ,canna of rich1 dark  
green would make a fine centre plant for
 a bed in which red ,coleus served as a 
background4 ,one of the dark            
copper-colored varieties would show to  
fine effect if surrounded with either   
yellow ,pyrethrum or gray ,centaurea4   
,illustration3 ,no4 #f4  ,ageratum1 with
 its delicate lavender-blue flowers1 can

 be made extremely attractive in        
combination with yellow ,coleus4 ,a pink
 ,geranium surrounded with gray         
,centaurea would be delightful in the   
harmony that would result from a        
combination of these colors4            
,illustration3 ,no4 #g4  ,illustration3 
,no4 #h4  ,nos4 #g and #h illustrate the
 simplest possible form of bed4 ,no4 #g 
is designed for plants to be set in     
rows4 ,in a bed of this kind flowering  
plants can be used more effectively than
 in any of the others4 ,pink1 white1 and
 pale yellow ,phlox would be very pretty
 in such a combination4 ,no4 #h would be
 quite effective if each of the five    
sections were of a different color of   
,coleus4 ,or the whole star might be of 
a solid color1 with a border of         
contrasting color4 ,red ,coleus with    
,madame ,salleroi ,geranium as a border 
would look well4 ,so would yellow       
,coleus edged with ,centaurea4          
,,flowering ,,and ,,foliage ,,plants    
,,for ,,edging ,,beds ,,and ,,walks     

,we do not lay as much stress on edging 
beds and walks with flowering plants as 
formerly1 but the practice is a most    
pleasing one1 and ought not to be       
neglected4 ,it is one of the phases of  
gardening that has been allowed to fall 
into disuse1 to a considerable extent1  
but there are already signs that show it
 is coming back to its old popularity1  
along with the old-fashioned flowers    
that are now more in favor than ever    
before4 ,this is as it should be4  ,a   
bed without a pretty border or edging   
always seems incomplete to me4 ,it is as
 if the owner of it ran short of        
material before it was finished4 ,the   
bit of lace or ribbon that is to add the
 last touch of grace and beauty to the  
gown is lacking4  ,especially is a      
border of flowering plants satisfactory 
if kinds are selected which bloom       
throughout the greater part of the      
season4 ,the plants we make use of in   
the centre of the bed are not always    
attractive before they come into bloom1 

neither are they that after they have   
passed their prime1 but a pretty edging 
of flowers draws attention from their   
shortcomings1 and always pleases4  ,one 
of our best flowering plants for edging 
purposes is ,candytuft4 ,it comes into  
bloom early in the season1 and blooms in
 great profusion until the coming of    
frost4 ,keep it from developing seed and
 it will literally cover itself with    
bloom4 ,i would advise going over it    
twice a week and clipping off every     
cluster of faded blossoms4 ,this answers
 two purposes--that of preventing the   
formation of seed1 and of removing what 
would be a disfigurement to the plant if
 it were allowed to remain4  ,there are 
two varieties of ,candytuft in          
cultivation--one white1 the other a dull
 red4 ,the white variety is the one most
 persons will select1 as it harmonizes  
with all other plants4 ,but the red sort
 is very pleasing when used with        
harmonious colors4 ,i last year saw a   
bed of ,nasturtium bordered with it1 and

 the effect was delightful4 ,its dull   
color blended well with the richer1     
stronger tones of the ,nasturtium       
flowers1 and gave them an emphasis that 
was suggestive of the effect of dull1   
rich colors used in old rugs in         
heightening and bringing out1 by        
contrast1 the brighter colors4  ,in     
using ,candytuft for edging1 set the    
plants about a foot apart4 ,i would     
advise two rows of them1 placing the    
plants in such a manner that they       
alternate in the rows4 ,do not attempt  
to train them4 ,let them do that for    
themselves4 ,one of their most          
attractive features is their lack of    
formality when allowed to grow to suit  
themselves4 ,very pleasing results are  
secured by using the white and red      
varieties together1 the colors          
alternating4 ,if the centre of the bed  
is filled with ,golden ,feather         
,pyrethrum and these two ,candytufts are
 used as an edging1 the effect will be  
very fine as the dull red admirably     

supplements the greenish-yellow color of
 the ,pyrethrum1 while the white        
relieves what1 without it1 would be too 
sombre a color-scheme4  ,sweet ,alyssum 
is excellent for edging purposes4 ,its  
general effect is quite similar to that 
of the white ,candytuft1 but it has     
greater delicacy of both bloom and      
foliage1 and the additional merit of a  
delightful fragrance4  ,ageratum is     
lovely for edging beds of pink          
,geraniums1 its soft lavender tones     
being in perfect harmony with their     
color4 ,it is equally satisfactory when 
used with pale rose ,phlox ,drummondi1  
or the soft yellow shades of that       
flower4 ,combine the three colors in a  
bed and you will have something         
unusually dainty and delightful4 ,one of
 the prettiest beds ,i saw last summer  
was filled with ,sweet ,alyssum1 and    
edged with ,ageratum4 ,if there was any 
unfavorable criticism to be made1 it was
 that a touch of some brighter1 stronger
 color was needed to relieve its white  

and lavender4 ,a free-flowering         
rose-colored ,geranium in its centre1 or
 a pink ,verbena1 would have added much 
to the general effect1 ,i fancy4 ,as it 
was1 it was suggestive of old           
blue-and-white ,delft1 and the collector
 of that ware would have gone into      
raptures over it4  ,for a permanent     
edging1 for beds1 paths1 and the border1
 ,bellis perennis1 whose popular name is
 ,english ,daisy1 is one of the best of 
all plants4 ,it is entirely hardy4 ,it  
blooms early in the season4 ,it is      
wonderfully generous in its production  
of flowers4 ,these are small1 and very  
double1 some pink1 some almost white1   
produced on short stems which keep them 
close to the ground and prevent them    
from straggling4 ,its thick1 bright     
green foliage furnishes a charming      
background against which the blossoms   
display themselves effectively4 ,it is a
 plant that does well everywhere1 and is
 always on good terms with everything   
else in the garden1 as will be seen by  

the illustration that shows it in full  
bloom1 along with ,pansies and          
,hyacinths4 ,because of its compact1    
non-straggling habit it is especially   
useful for bordering paths and the      
border1 permitting the use of the       
lawn-mower or the rake with perfect     
freedom4 ,plants should be set about    
eight inches apart4 ,if you have but few
 plants of it and desire more1 pull the 
old plants apart in spring and make a   
new one out of each bit that comes away 
with a piece of root attached4 ,by fall 
the young plants will have grown        
together and formed a solid mass of     
foliage1 with a great many crowns from  
which flowers will be produced the      
following season4 ,florists can         
generally furnish seedling plants in    
spring1 from which immediate effects can
 be secured by close planting4          
,illustration3 ,a ,,border ,,of         
,,creeping ,,phlox  ,one of the best--if
 not the best--plants for all-around use
 in edging is ,madame ,salleroi         

,geranium4 ,it is quite unlike any other
 ,geranium of which ,i have any         
knowledge1 in general habit4 ,it forms a
 bushy1 compact plant1 and bears a solid
 mass of foliage4 ,no attention whatever
 is required in the way of pruning4 ,the
 plant trains itself4 ,the ordinary     
flowering ,geranium must be pinched     
back1 and pruned constantly to prevent  
it from becoming leggy1 but there is no 
trouble of this kind with ,madame       
,salleroi4 ,its branches1 of which there
 will often be fifty or more from a     
plant1 are all sent up from the crown of
 the plant1 and seldom grow to be more  
than five or six inches in length4 ,each
 branch may have a score of leaves1     
borne on stems about four inches long4  
,these leaves are smaller than those of 
any other ,geranium4 ,their ground color
 is a pale green1 and every leaf is     
bordered with creamy white4 ,this       
combination of color makes the plant as 
attractive as a flowering one4 ,it is a 
favorite plant for house-culture in     

winter1 and those who have a specimen   
that has been carried over can pull it  
apart in ,may and plant each bit of     
cutting in the ground where it is to    
grow during summer1 feeling sure that   
not one slip out of twenty will fail to 
grow if its base is inserted about an   
inch deep in soil which should be       
pinched firmly about it to hold it in   
place while roots are forming4 ,set the 
cuttings about ten inches apart4 ,by    
midsummer the young plants will touch   
each other1 and from that time on to the
 coming of frost your border will be a  
thing of beauty1 and one of the         
delightful things about it will be--it  
will require no attention whatever from 
you4 ,never a branch will have to be    
shortened to keep it within bounds4 ,no 
support will be needed4 ,the plants will
 take care of themselves4 ,i have never 
had a plant that is easier to grow4 ,it 
harmonizes with everything4 ,seen       
against the green of the lawn it is     
charming4 ,all things considered1 it is 

an ideal plant for edging4 ,in          
combination with scarlet and yellow     
,coleus it is exceedingly effective1    
because of its strong color-contrast4   
,most amateur gardeners are familiar    
with the various merits of ,coleus1     
,alternatheras1 ,achyranthes1 ,golden   
,feather ,pyrethrum1 and ,centaurea     
maritima1 better known as ,dusty ,miller
 because of its gray foliage4 ,these are
 all good1 when properly cared for1 when
 used for edging beds and borders4      
,especially so when used with ,cannas1  
,caladiums1 and other plants of striking
 foliage1 where their rich colors take  
the place of flowers4  ,phlox decussata1
 commonly known as ,moss ,pink because  
of its fine foliage and bright pink     
flowers1 is a most excellent plant for  
the hardy border1 because it stands our 
winters quite as well as the hardiest   
perennials4 ,early in spring it will    
cover itself with charming blossoms that
 are as cheerful to look at as the song 
of the robin or the blue bird is to     

hear4 ,it is a lovable little thing1 and
 has but one rival among early-flowering
 plants for edging1 and that rival is   
the ,english ,daisy4     ,,planning     
,,the ,,garden   ,the flower garden not 
being one of the necessities of life1 in
 the usual sense of the term1 people are
 likely to consider the making of it of 
so little importance that it is hardly  
worth while to give the matter much     
consideration4 ,consequently they simply
 dig up a bed here and there1 sow       
whatever seed they happen to have1 and  
call the thing done4  ,a haphazard      
garden of that sort is never            
satisfactory4 ,in order to make even the
 smallest garden what it ought to be it 
should be carefully planned1 and every  
detail of it well thought out before the
 opening of the season4  ,to insure     
thoroughness in this part of the work ,i
 would advise the garden-maker to make a
 diagram of it as he thinks he would    
like to have it4 ,sketch it out1 no     
matter how roughly4 ,when you have a map

 of it on paper you will be able to get 
a much clearer idea of it than you can  
obtain from any merely mental plan4     
,after locating your beds1 decide what  
kind of flower you will have in each    
one4 ,but before you locate your plants 
study your catalogue carefully1 and make
 yourself familiar with the heights and 
habits of them4 ,quite likely this will 
lead to a revision of your mental       
diagram1 for you may find that you have 
proposed to put low-growing kinds in the
 rear of tall-growing sorts1 and        
tall-growing kinds where they would     
seriously interfere with the general    
effect4  ,bear in mind that there is    
always a proper place for each plant you
 make use of--if you can find it4 ,the  
making of a working diagram and the     
study of the leading characteristics of 
the plants you propose to use will help 
you to avoid mistakes that might        
seriously interfere with the            
effectiveness of your garden4  ,do not  
attempt more than you are sure of your  

ability to carry through well4 ,many    
persons allow the enthusiasm of the     
spring season to get the better of their
 judgment1 and lead them into           
undertaking to do so much that after a  
little the magnitude of the work        
discourages them1 and1 as a natural     
result1 the garden suffers seriously1   
and often proves a sad failure4 ,bear in
 mind that a few really good plants will
 give a hundredfold more pleasure than a
 great many mediocre ones4 ,therefore   
concentrate your work1 and aim at       
quality rather than quantity4 ,never set
 out to have so large a garden that the 
amount of labor you have to expend on it
 will be likely to prove a burden rather
 than a pleasurable recreation4         
,illustration3 ,,in ,,summer            
,illustration3 ,,in ,,winter  ,do not   
attempt anything elaborate in a small   
garden4 ,leave fancy beds and striking  
designs to those who have a sufficient  
amount of room at their disposal to make
 them effective4  ,i would advise       

keeping each kind of plant by itself1 as
 far as possible4 ,beds in which all    
colors are mixed promiscuously are      
seldom pleasing because there are sure  
to be colors there that are out of      
harmony with others1 and without        
color-harmony a garden of most expensive
 plants must prove a failure to the     
person of good taste4  ,i would not1    
therefore1 advise the purchase of mixed 
seed1 in which most persons invest1     
because it is cheaper than that in which
 each color is by itself4 ,this may cost
 more1 but it is well worth the         
additional expense4 ,take ,phlox        
,drummondi as an illustration of the    
idea governing this advice3 ,if mixed   
seed is used1 you will have red1 pink1  
mauve1 scarlet1 crimson1 violet1 and    
lilac in the same bed1--a jumble of     
colors which can never be made to       
harmonize and the effect of which will  
be very unpleasant4 ,on the other hand1 
by planning your bed in advance of      
making it1 with color-harmony in mind1  

you can so select and arrange your      
colors that they will not only          
harmonize1 but afford a contrast that   
will heighten the general effect        
greatly4 ,for instance1 you can use     
rose-color1 white and pale yellow       
varieties together1 or scarlet and      
white1 or carmine and pale yellow1 and  
these combinations will be in excellent 
harmony1 and give entire satisfaction4  
,the mauves1 lilacs1 and violets1 to be 
satisfactory1 should only be used in    
combination with white varieties4 ,i am 
speaking of the ,phlox1 but the rule    
which applies to this plant applies with
 equal force to all plants in which     
similar colors are to be found4  ,if    
there are unsightly places anywhere     
about the grounds aim to hide them under
 a growth of pretty vines4 ,an old fence
 can be made into a thing of beauty when
 covered with ,morning ,glories or      
,nasturtiums4 ,by the use of a trellis  
covered with ,sweet ,peas1 or a hedge of
 ,zinnia1 or of ,cosmos1 we can shut off

 the view of objectionable features     
which may exist in connection with the  
garden4 ,outhouses can be completely    
hidden in midsummer by planting groups  
of ,ricinus about them1 and filling in  
with ,hollyhocks1 and ,delphinium1 and  
,golden ,glow1 and other tall-growing   
plants4 ,in planning your garden1 study 
how to bring about these desirable      
results4  ,keep in mind the fact that if
 you go about garden-making in a        
haphazard way1 and happen to get plants 
where they do not belong1 as you are    
quite likely to do unless you know them 
well1 you have made a mistake which     
cannot be rectified until another       
season4 ,this being the case1 guard     
against such mistakes by making sure    
that you know just what plant to use to 
produce the effect you have in mind4    
,plan to have a selection of plants that
 will give flowers throughout the entire
 season4 ,the majority of annuals bloom 
most profusely in ,june and ,july1 but  
the prevention of seed-development will 

force them into bloom during the later  
months4  ,plan to have a few plants in  
reserve1 to take the places of those    
which may fail4 ,something is liable to 
happen to a plant1 at any time1 and     
unless you have material at hand with   
which to make good the loss1 there will 
be a bare spot in your beds that will be
 an eye-sore all the rest of the season4
  ,plan to have the lowest growers near 
the path1 or under the sitting-room     
windows where you can look down upon    
them4  ,plan to have a back-yard garden 
in which to give the plants not needed  
in the main garden a place4 ,there will 
always be seedlings to thin out1 and    
these ought not to be thrown away4 ,if  
planted in some out-of-the-way place    
they will furnish you with plenty of    
material for cutting1 and this will     
leave the plants in the main garden     
undisturbed4     ,,the ,,back-,,yard    
,,garden   ,a great deal is written     
about the flower-garden that fronts the 
street1 or is so located that it will   

attract the passer-by1 but it is seldom 
that we see any mention made of the     
garden in the back-yard4 ,one would     
naturally get the idea that the only    
garden worth having is the one that will
 attract the attention of the stranger1 
or the casual visitor4  ,i believe in a 
flower-garden that will give more       
pleasure to the home and its inmates    
than to anyone else1 and where can such 
a garden be located with better promise 
of pleasurable results than by the      
kitchen door1 where the busy housewife  
can blend the brightness of it with her 
daily work1 and breathe in the sweetness
 of it while about her indoor tasks8 ,it
 doesn't matter if its existence is     
unknown to the stranger within the      
gates1 or that the passer-by does not   
get a glimpse of it4 ,it works out its  
mission and ministry of cheer and       
brightness and beauty in a way that     
makes it the one garden most worth      
having4 ,ask the busy woman who catches 
fleeting glimpses of the beauty in it as

 she goes about her work1 and she will  
tell you that it is an inspiration to   
her1 and that the sight of it rests her 
when most weary1 and that its nearness  
makes it a companion that seems to enter
 into all her moods4  ,last year ,i came
 across such a garden1 and it pleased me
 so much that ,i have often looked back 
to it with a delightful memory of its   
homeliness1 its utter lack of formality1
 and wished that it were possible for me
 to let others see it as ,i saw it1 for1
 were they to do so1 ,i feel quite sure 
every home would have one like it4  ,i  
never take any pains with it1 the woman 
of the home said to me1 half            
apologetically4 ,that is1 ,i don't try  
to make it like other folks' gardens4 ,i
 don't believe ,i'd enjoy it so much if 
,i were to4 ,you see1 it hasn't anything
 of the company air about it4 ,it's more
 like the neighbor that 'just drops in' 
to sit a little while1 and chat about   
neighborhood happenings that we don't   
dare to speak about when some one comes 

to make a formal call4 ,i love flowers  
so much that it seemed as if ,i must    
have a few where ,i could see them1     
while ,i was busy in the kitchen4 ,you  
know1 a woman who does her own housework
 can't stop every time she'd like to to 
run out to the front-yard garden4 ,so ,i
 began to plant hardy things here1 and  
,i've kept on ever since1 till ,i've    
quite a collection1 as you see4 ,just   
odds and ends of the plants that seem   
most like folks1 you know4 ,it doesn't  
amount to much as a garden1 ,i suppose  
most folks would think1 but you've no   
idea of the pleasure ,i get out of it4  
,sometimes when ,i get all fagged out   
over housework ,i go out and pull weeds 
in it1 and hoe a little1 and train up   
the vines1 and the first ,i know ,i'm   
ready to go back to work1 with the tired
 feeling all gone4 ,and do you know--the
 plants seem to enjoy it as much as ,i  
do8 ,they seem to grow better here than 
,i could ever coax them to do in the    
front yard4 ,but that's probably because

 they get the slops from the kitchen1   
and the soap-suds1 every wash-day4 ,it  
doesn't seem as if ,i worked among them 
at all4 ,it's just play4 ,the fresh air 
of outdoors does me more good1 ,i'm     
sure1 than all the doctors' tonics4 ,and
 ,i'm not the only one in the family    
that enjoys them4 ,the children take a  
good deal of pride in 'mother's garden1'
 and my husband took time1 one day1 in  
the busiest part of the season1 to put  
up that frame by the door1 to train     
,morning ,glories over4  ,in this ideal 
home-garden were old-fashioned ,madonna 
,lilies1 such as ,i had not seen for    
years1 and ,bouncing ,bets1 ragged and  
saucy as ever1 and ,southernwood1 that  
gave off spicy odors every time one     
touched it1 and ,aquilegias in blue and 
white and red1 ,life ,everlasting1 and  
,moss ,pink1 and that most delicious of 
all old-fashioned garden flowers1 the   
,spice ,pink1 with its fringed petals   
marked with maroon1 as if some wayside  
artist had touched each one with a brush

 dipped in that color for the simple    
mischief of the thing1 and ,hollyhocks1 
,rockets--almost all the old stand-bys4 
,there was not one new flower there4 ,if
 it had been1 it would have seemed out  
of place4 ,the ,morning ,glories were   
just getting well under way1 and were   
only half-way up the door-frame1 but ,i 
could see1 with my mind's eye1 what a   
beautiful awning they would make a      
little later4 ,i could imagine them     
peering into the kitchen1 like saucy1   
fun-loving children1 and laughing       
good-morning to the woman who loved     
flowers so well she couldn't get along  
without a few4  ,you see1 she was       
successful with them because she loved  
them4 ,because of that1 the labor she   
bestowed upon them was play1 not work4  
,they were friends of hers1 and         
friendship never begrudges anything that
 gives proof of its existence in a      
practical way4 ,and the flowers1        
grateful for the friendship which       
manifested itself in so many helpful    

ways1 repaid her generously in beauty   
and brightness and cheer by making      
themselves a part of her daily life4    
,by all means1 have a back-yard garden4 
,,the ,,wild ,,garden  ,a ,,plea ,,for  
,,our ,,native ,,plants   ,many persons1
 ,i find1 are under the impression that 
we have few1 if any1 native flowering   
plants and shrubs that are worthy a     
place in the home-garden4 ,they have    
been accustomed to consider them as wild
 things1 and weeds1 forgetting or       
overlooking the fact that all plants are
 wild things and weeds somewhere4 ,so   
unfamiliar are they with many of our    
commonest plants that they fail to      
recognize them when they meet them      
outside their native haunts4 ,some years
 ago ,i transplanted a                  
,solidago1--better known as a ,golden   
,rod1--from a fence-corner of the       
pasture1 and gave it a place in the     
home-garden4 ,there it grew luxuriantly1
 and soon became a great plant that sent
 up scores of stalks each season as high

 as a man's head1 every one of them     
crowned with a plume of brilliant yellow
 flowers4 ,the effect was simply        
magnificent4  ,one day an old neighbor  
came along1 and stopped to chat with me 
as ,i worked among my plants4  ,that's a
 beauty1 he said as he leaned across the
 fence near the ,golden ,rod4 ,i don't  
know's ,i ever saw anything like it     
before4 ,i reckon1 now1 you paid a good 
deal of money for that plant4  ,how much
 do you think it cost me8 ,i asked4     
,oh1 ,i don't know1 he answered1 looking
 at the plant admiringly1 and then at   
some of foreign origin1 near-by4 ,he    
knew something about the value of these1
 as he had one of them growing in his   
garden4 ,he seemed to be making a mental
 calculation1 based on the relative     
beauty of the plants1 and presently he  
said3  ,i ain't much of a judge of such 
things1 but ,i wouldn't wonder if you   
paid as much as three--mebby four--an'  
like's not five dollars for it4  ,the   
plant cost me nothing but the labor of  

bringing it from the pasture1 ,i        
answered4 ,don't you know what it is8   
,there's any quantity of it back of your
 barn1 ,i notice4  ,you don't mean to   
say that's yaller-weed1 exclaimed the   
old gentleman1 with a disgusted look on 
his face4 ,i wouldn't have it in my     
yard4 ,we've got weeds enough 'thout    
settin' 'em out4 ,he went away with a   
look on his face that made me think he  
felt as if he had been imposed on4      
,while it is true1 in many instances1   
that familiarity breeds contempt1 it is 
equally true that familiarity without   
prejudice would open our eyes to the    
fact that beauty exists all about us--in
 lane1 and field1 and roadside1 and     
forest4 ,we are not aware of the        
prevalence of it until we go in search  
of it4 ,when we go out with the seeing  
eye1 we find it everywhere4 ,nothing is 
so plentiful or so cheap as beauty to   
the lover of the beautiful4 ,it may be  
had for the taking4 ,we have fallen into
 the habit of looking to foreign lands  

for plants with which to beautify our   
gardens1 thus neglecting and ignoring   
the beauty at our own doors4 ,a shrub   
with a long name and a good big price   
attached will win our admiration1 while 
a native plant1 vastly more desirable1  
will be wholly overlooked4 ,it ought not
 to be so4 ,home first1 the world       
afterward is the motto of many patriotic
 men and women1 and it ought to be the  
motto of the lover of the beautiful in  
plant-life when he is seeking for       
something with which to ornament the    
home-grounds4  ,many persons have1      
however1 become greatly interested in   
our native plants1 and it is apparent   
that the interest of the masses in      
whatever is beautiful is steadily       
increasing4 ,the people are being       
educated to a keener appreciation of    
beauty than ever before4 ,it is         
encouraging to know that a demand has   
sprung up for shrubs and plants of      
,american origin--a demand so large1    
already1 that many nurserymen advertise 

collections of native plants1 some of   
them quite extensive4 ,appreciation of  
true beauty is putting a value into     
things which have heretofore had no idea
 of value connected with them4  ,the    
dominant idea ,i had in mind1 when this 
chapter was planned1 was that of        
enlisting the boys and girls in the work
 of making a collection of native       
plants4 ,i would have them make what    
might properly be called a wild garden4 
,but ,i would not confine the           
undertaking to the boys and girls4 ,i   
would interest the man or woman who has 
a home to make beautiful in the material
 that is to be found on every hand1     
waiting to be utilized4 ,such a garden  
can be made of great educational value1 
and1 at the same time1 quite as         
ornamental as the garden that contains  
nothing but foreign plants4 ,it can be  
made to assist in the development of    
patriotic as well as aesthetic ideas4   
,it can be made to stimulate a healthy  
rivalry among the boys and girls1 as    

well as the children of a larger growth1
 as to whose collection shall be most   
complete4 ,in the care and culture of   
these plants a skill and knowledge may  
be attained that will be of much benefit
 to them in the future1 and possibly to 
the world4 ,who knows8 ,we may have     
among us a young ,linnaeus1 or a        
,humboldt1 and the making of a wild     
garden may tend to the discovery and    
development of a talent which coming    
years may make us proud to do honor to  
the possessor of4  ,i would suggest the 
formation of a wild-garden society in   
each country village and neighborhood4  
,organize expeditions into the          
surrounding country in search of shrubs 
and plants4 ,such excursions can be made
 as delightful as a picnic4 ,take with  
you a good-sized basket1 to contain the 
plants you gather1 and some kind of a   
tool to dig the plants with--and your   
dinner4 ,lift the plants very carefully1
 with enough earth about them to keep   
their roots moist4 ,on no account should

 their roots be allowed to get dry4 ,if 
this happens you might as well throw    
them away1 at once1 as no amount of     
after-attention will undo the damage    
that is done by neglect to carry out    
this advice4  ,illustration3 ,,porch    
,,box  ,the search for plants should    
begin early in the season if they are to
 be transplanted in spring1 for it would
 not be safe to attempt their removal   
after they have begun to make active    
growth4 ,april is a good time to look up
 your plants1 and ,may a good time to   
bring them home4 ,later on1 when you    
come across a plant that seems a        
desirable addition to your collection1  
mark the place where it grows1 and      
transplant to the home grounds in fall1 
after its leaves have ripened4  ,in     
transplanting shrubs and herbaceous     
plants1 study carefully the conditions  
under which they have grown1 and aim to 
make the conditions under which they are
 to grow as similar to the original ones
 as possible4 ,of course you will be    

able to do this only approximately1 in  
most instances1 but come as near it as  
you can1 for much of your success       
depends on this4 ,you can give your     
plants a soil similar to that in which  
they have been growing1 and generally1  
by a little planning1 you can arrange   
for exposure to sunshine1 or a shaded   
location1 according to the nature of the
 plants you make use of4 ,very often it 
is possible to so locate moisture-loving
 plants that they can have the damp soil
 so many of them need1 by planting them 
in low places or depressions where water
 stands for some time after a rain1     
while those which prefer a dry soil can 
be given places on knolls and stony     
places from which water runs off        
readily4 ,in order to do this part of   
the work well it will be necessary to   
study your plants carefully before      
removing them from their home in the    
wood or field4 ,aim to make the change  
as easy as possible for them4 ,this can 
only be done by imitating natural       

conditions--in other words1 the         
conditions under which they have been   
growing up to the time when you         
undertake their domestication4  ,not    
knowing1 at the start1 the kind of      
plants our collection will contain1 as  
it grows1 we can have no definite plan  
to work to4 ,consequently there will be 
a certain unavoidable lack of system in 
the arrangement of the wild garden4 ,but
 this may possibly be one of the chief  
charms of it1 after a little4 ,a garden 
formed on this plan--or lack of         
plan--will seem to have evolved itself1 
and the utter absence of all formality  
will make it a more cunning imitation of
 ,nature's methods than it would ever be
 if we began it with the intention of   
imitating her4  ,among our              
early-flowering native plants worthy a  
place in any garden will be found the   
,dogwoods1 the ,plums1 the ,crab-apple1 
and the wild ,rose4 ,smaller plants1    
like the ,trillium1 the ,houstonia1 the 
,bloodroot1 the ,claytonia and the      

,hepatica1 will work in charmingly in   
the foreground4 ,between them can be    
used many varieties of ,fern1 if the    
location is shaded somewhat1 as it      
should be to suit the flowering plants  
,i have named4  ,among the              
summer-flowering sorts we have          
,aquilegia1 ,daisy1 ,coreopsis1         
,cranesbill1 ,eupatorium1 ,meadow       
,sweet1 ,lily1 ,helianthus1 ,enothera1  
,rudbeckia1 ,vervain1 ,veronia1 ,lobelia
 and many others that grow here and     
there1 but are not found in all parts of
 the country1 as those ,i have named    
are1 for the most part4  ,among the     
shrubs are ,elder1 ,spirea1 ,clethra1   
,sumach1 ,dogwood1 and others equally as
 desirable4  ,among the late bloomers   
are the ,solidagos 7,golden ,rod71      
,asters1 ,helenium1 ,ironweed1 and      
others which continue to bloom until    
cold weather is at hand4  ,among the    
desirable vines are the ,ampelopsis1    
which vies with the ,sumach in richness 
of color in fall1 the ,bittersweet1 with

 its profusion of fruitage as brilliant 
as flowers1 and the ,clematis1 beautiful
 in bloom1 and quite as attractive      
later1 when its seeds take on their     
peculiar feathery appendages that make  
the plant look as if a gray plume had   
been torn apart and scattered over the  
plant1 portions of it adhering to every 
branch in the most airy1 graceful manner
 imaginable4  ,though ,i have named only
 our most familiar wild plants1 it will 
be observed that the list is quite a    
long one4 ,no one need be afraid of not 
being able to obtain plants enough to   
stock a good-sized garden4 ,the trouble 
will be1 in most instances1 to find room
 for all the plants you would like to   
have represented in your collection1    
after you become thoroughly interested  
in the delightful work of making it4    
,the attraction of it will increase as  
the collection increases1 and as you    
discover what a wealth of material for  
garden-making we have at our very doors1
 without ever having dreamed of its     

existence1 you will be tempted to exceed
 the limitations of the place because of
 the embarrassment of riches which makes
 a decision between desirable plants    
difficult4 ,you can have but few of     
them1 but you would like all4     ,,the 
,,winter ,,garden   ,most persons who   
are the owners of gardens seem to be    
under the impression that we must close 
the summer volume of ,nature's book at  
the end of the season1 and that it must 
remain closed until the spring of       
another year invites us to a re-perusal 
of its attractive pages4 ,in other      
words1 that we are not expected to      
derive much pleasure from the garden for
 six months of the year4  ,there is no  
good reason why the home-grounds should 
not be attractive the year round if we  
plant for winter as well as summer      
effect4  ,true1 we cannot have flowers  
in winter1 but we can secure            
color-effects with but little trouble   
that will make good1 to a considerable  
extent1 the lack of floral color4       

,without these the winter landscape is  
cold1 though beautiful1 and to most     
persons it will seem dreary and         
monotonous in its chill whiteness4 ,but 
to those who have the seeing eye1 there 
are always elements of wonderful beauty 
in it1 and there is ample material at   
hand with which to give it the touches  
of brightness that can make it almost as
 attractive as it is in ,june4  ,if the 
reader will carefully study the two     
illustrations accompanying this chapter1
 he will have to admit that the winter  
garden has many attractive features that
 the summer garden cannot boast of4     
,these illustrations are summer and     
winter views of the same spot1 taken    
from one of our public parks4 ,the      
summer view shows a wealth of foliage   
and bloom1 and is one of ,nature's      
beauty-spots that we never tire of4 ,but
 the winter view has in it a suggestion 
of breadth and distance that adds       
wonderfully to the charm of the scene1  
brought out as it is by the naked       

branches against the sky1 and glimpses  
of delightful vistas farther on1 which  
are entirely hidden by the foliage that 
interferes with the outlook in the      
summer picture4 ,note how the evergreens
 stand out sharply against the          
background1 and how clearly every       
shrub--every branch--is outlined by the 
snow4 ,it is one of ,nature's etchings4 
,whatever color there is in the         
landscape is heightened and emphasized  
by strong1 vivid contrast4 ,there are   
little touches of exquisite beauty in   
this picture that cannot be found in the
 other4  ,most of us plant a few        
evergreens about our homes4 ,sometimes  
we are fortunate enough to locate them  
where they will prove effective4        
,oftener we put them where they have no 
chance to display their charms to good  
effect4 ,they do not belong near the    
house--least of all in the front yard4  
,they must be admired at a distance     
which will soften their coarseness of   
habit4 ,you must be far enough away from

 them to be able to take in their charms
 of form and color at a glance1 to      
observe the graceful sweep of their     
branches against the snow1 and to fully 
bring out the strength and richness of  
color1 none of which things can be done 
at close range4 ,looked at from a proper
 and respectful distance1 every good    
specimen of evergreen will afford a     
great deal of pleasure4 ,but it might be
 made to afford a great deal more if we 
were to set about it in the right way4  
,why not make our evergreens serve as   
backgrounds against which to bring out  
colors that rival1 to some extent1 the  
flowers of summer8  ,have you never     
taken a tramp along the edge of the     
woodland in winter1 and come suddenly   
upon a group of ,alders8 ,what          
brightness seemed to radiate from their 
spikes of scarlet berries6 ,the effect  
is something like that of a flame1 so   
intense is it4 ,it seems to radiate     
through the winter air with a thrill of 
positive warmth4 ,so strong an          

impression do they make upon the eye    
that you see them long after you have   
passed them4 ,they photograph themselves
 there4 ,why should we not transplant   
this bit of woodland glory to the       
garden1 and heighten the effect of it by
 giving it an evergreen as a background8
 ,its scarlet fire1 seen against the    
dark greenery of ,spruce or ,arbor      
,vitae1 would make the winter garden    
fairly glow with color4  ,i have seen   
the red-branched ,willow planted near an
 evergreen1 and the contrast of color   
brought out every branch so keenly that 
it seemed chiselled from coral4 ,the    
effect was exquisite4  ,train ,celastrus
 scandens1 better known as ,bittersweet1
 where its pendant clusters of red and  
orange can show against evergreens1 and 
you produce an effect that can be       
equalled by few flowers4  ,the ,berberry
 is an exceedingly useful shrub with    
which to work up vivid color-effects in 
winter4 ,it shows attractively among    
other shrubs1 is charming when seen     

against a drift of snow1 but is never   
quite so effective as when its richness 
of coloring is emphasized by contrast by
 the sombre green of a ,spruce or       
,balsam4  ,our native                   
,cranberry--,viburnum opulus--is one of 
our best berry-bearing shrubs4 ,it holds
 its crimson fruit well in winter4      
,planted among--not against--evergreens1
 it is wonderfully effective because of 
its tall and stately habit4  ,bayberry  
7,myrica cerifera7 is another           
showy-fruited shrub4 ,its grayish-white 
berries are thickly studded along its   
brown branches1 and are retained through
 the winter4 ,if this is planted side by
 side with the ,alder1 the effect will  
be found very pleasing4  ,the ,snowberry
 7,symphoricarpus racemosus7 has been   
cultivated for nearly a hundred years in
 our gardens1 and probably stands at the
 head of the list of white-fruited      
shrubs4 ,if this is planted in front of 
evergreens the purity of its color is   
brought out charmingly4 ,group it with  

the red-barked ,willow1 the ,alder1 or  
the ,berberry1 and you secure a contrast
 that makes the effect strikingly       
delightful--a symphony in green1        
scarlet1 and white4 ,if to this         
combination you add the blue of a winter
 sky or the glow of a winter sunset1 who
 can say there is not plenty of color in
 a winter landscape8  ,the value of the 
,mountain ,ash in winter decoration is  
just beginning to be understood4 ,if it 
retained its fruit throughout the entire
 season it would be one of our most     
valuable plants1 but the birds claim its
 crimson fruit as their especial        
property1 and it is generally without a 
berry by ,christmas in localities where 
robins and other berry-eating birds     
linger late in the season4 ,up to that  
time it is exceedingly attractive1      
especially if it is planted where it can
 have the benefit of strong contrast to 
bring out the rich color of its great   
clusters4 ,because of its tall and      
stately habit it will be found very     

effective when planted between          
evergreens1 with other bright-colored   
shrubs in the foreground4  ,there are   
many shrubs whose berries are blue1 and 
purple1 and black4 ,while these are not 
as showy as those of scarlet and white1 
they are very attractive1 and can be    
made extremely useful in the winter     
garden4 ,they should not be neglected1  
because they widen the range of color to
 such an extent that the charge of      
monotony of tone in the winter landscape
 is ineffective4  ,the ,ramanas ,rose   
7,r4 lucida7 has very brilliant clusters
 of crimson fruit which retains its     
beauty long after the holidays4 ,this   
shrub is really more attractive in      
winter than in summer4  ,it will be     
understood1 from what ,i said at the    
beginning of this chapter1 that ,i put  
high value on the decorative effect of  
leafless shrubs4 ,their branches1       
whether traced against a background of  
sky or snow1 make an embroidery that has
 about it a charm that summer cannot    

equal in delicacy4 ,a ,bittersweet1     
clambering over bush or tree1 and       
displaying its many clusters of red and 
orange against a background of leafless 
branches1 with the intense blue of      
winter sky showing through them1 makes a
 picture that is brilliant in the       
extreme1 when you consider the relative 
values of the colors composing it4 ,then
 you will discover that the charm is not
 confined to the color of the fruit1 but
 to the delicate tracery of branch and  
twig1 as well4     ,,window ,,and       
,,veranda ,,boxes   ,somebody had a     
bright thought when the window-box came 
into existence4 ,the only wonder is that
 persons who were obliged to forego the 
pleasure of a garden did not think it   
out long ago4 ,it is one of the         
institutions that have come to stay4 ,we
 see more of them every year4 ,those who
 have gardens--or could have them1 if   
they wanted them--seem to have a decided
 preference for the window-box          
substitute4  ,there is a good reason for

 this3 ,the window-box brings the garden
 to one's room1 while the garden obliges
 one to make it a visit in order to     
enjoy the beauty in it4 ,with the       
window-box the upstair room can be made 
as pleasant as those below1 and the     
woman in the kitchen can enjoy the      
companionship of flowers while she      
busies herself with her housewifely     
duties1 if she does not care to make    
herself a back-yard garden such as ,i   
have spoken of in a preceding chapter4  
,and the humble home that has no room   
for flowers outside its walls1 the homes
 in the congested city1 away up1 up1 up 
above the soil in which a few flowers   
might possibly be coaxed to grow1 if man
 thought less of gain and more of       
beauty1 can be made more like what home 
ought to be1 with but little trouble and
 expense1 by giving these boxes a chance
 to do their good work at their windows4
 ,blessed be the window-box6  ,many     
persons1 however1 fail to attain success
 in the cultivation of plants in boxes  

at the window-sill1 and their failures  
have given rise to the impression in the
 minds of those who have watched their  
undertaking1 that success with them is  
very problematical4 ,it looks easy1 said
 a woman to me last season1 when you see
 somebody else's box just running over  
with vines1 but when you come to make   
the attempt for yourself you wake up to 
the fact that there's a knack to it that
 most of us fail to discover4 ,i've     
tried my best1 for the last three years1
 to have such boxes as my neighbor has1 
and ,i haven't found out what's wrong   
yet4 ,i invest in the plants that are   
told me to be best adapted to window-box
 culture4 ,i plant them1 and then ,i    
coax them and coddle them4 ,i fertilize 
them and ,i shower them1 but they       
stubbornly refuse to do well4 ,they     
start off all right1 but by the time    
they ought to be doing great things they
 begin to look rusty1 and it isn't long 
before they look so sickly and forlorn  
that ,i feel like putting them out of   

their misery by dumping them in the     
ash-heap4  ,now this woman's experience 
is the experience of many other women4  
,she thinks1--and they think1--that they
 lack the gift that enables some persons
 to grow flowers successfully while     
others fail utterly with them4 ,they    
haven't the knack4 ,now1 as ,i have said
 elsewhere in this book1 there's no such
 thing as a knack in flower-growing4    
,instead of a knack it's a know-how4    
,ninety-nine times out of a hundred     
failure with window-boxes is due to just
 one thing3 ,they let their plants die  
simply because they do not give them    
water enough4  ,liberal watering is the 
know-how that a person must have to make
 a success of growing2 good plants in   
window and veranda boxes4 ,simply that1 
and nothing more4  ,the average woman   
isn't given to studying into things as  
much as the average man is1 so she often
 fails to get at the whys and wherefores
 of many happenings4 ,she sees the      
plants in her boxes dying slowly1 but   

she fails to take note of the fact that 
evaporation from these boxes is very    
rapid4 ,it could not be otherwise       
because of their exposure to wind and   
air on all sides4 ,she applies water in 
quantities only sufficient to wet the   
surface of the soil1 and because that   
looks moist she concludes there must be 
sufficient moisture below and lets it go
 at that4 ,examination would show her   
that an inch below the surface the soil 
in the box is very1 very dry1--so dry1  
in fact1 that no roots could find       
sustenance in it4 ,this explains why    
plants start off well4 ,while young and 
small their roots are close to the      
surface1 and as long as they remain in  
that condition they grow well enough1   
but as soon as they attempt to send     
their roots down--as all plants do1     
after the earlier stages of growth--they
 find no moisture1 and in a short time  
they die4  ,if1 instead of applying a   
basinful of water1 a pailful were used1 
daily1 all the soil in a box of ordinary

 size would be made moist all through1  
and so long as a supply of water is kept
 up there is no reason why just as fine 
plants cannot be grown in boxes as in   
pots1 or the garden beds4 ,there is no  
danger of overwatering1 for all surplus 
water will run off through the holes in 
the box1 provided for drainage4         
,therefore make it a rule to apply to   
your window-box1 every day1 throughout  
the season1 enough water to thoroughly  
saturate all the soil in it4 ,if this is
 done1 you will come to the conclusion  
that at last you have discovered the    
knack upon which success depends4  ,i am
 often asked what kind of boxes ,i      
consider best4 ,to which ,i reply3 ,the 
kind that comes handiest4 ,it isn't the 
box that your plants grow in that counts
 for much4 ,it's the care you give4 ,of 
course the soil ought to be fairly rich1
 though a soil of ordinary fertility can
 be made to answer all purposes if a    
good dose of plant food is given        
occasionally4 ,care should be taken1    

however1 not to make too frequent use of
 it1 as it is an easy matter to force a 
growth that will be weak because of its 
rapidity1 and from which there may be a 
disastrous reaction after a little4 ,the
 result to aim at is a healthy growth1  
and when you secure that1 be satisfied  
with it4  ,the idea prevails to a       
considerable extent that one must make  
use of plants specially adapted to      
window-box culture4 ,now the fact       
is--almost any kind of plant can be     
grown in these boxes1 there being no    
special adaption to this purpose1 except
 as to profusion of bloom and habit of  
growth4 ,drooping plants are desirable  
to trail over the sides of the box1 and 
add that touch of grace which is        
characteristic of all vines4 ,plants    
that bloom freely throughout the season 
should be chosen in preference to shy   
and short-season bloomers4 ,geraniums1  
,petunias1 ,verbenas1 ,fuchsias1        
,salvias1 ,heliotropes1 ,paris          
,daisies--all these are excellent4      

,illustration3 ,,porch ,,box  ,if one   
cares to depend on foliage for color1   
most pleasing results can be secured by 
making use of the plants of which       
mention has been made in the chapter on 
,carpet-,bedding4  ,vines that will give
 satisfaction are ,glechoma1 green1 with
 yellow variegation--,vinca ,harrisonii1
 also green and yellow1 ,moneywort1     
,german ,ivy1 ,tradescantia1            
,thunbergia1 and ,othonna4 ,a           
combination of plants with              
richly-colored foliage is especially    
desirable for boxes on the porch or     
veranda1 where showiness seems to be    
considered as more important than       
delicacy of tint or refinement of       
quality4 ,in these boxes larger plants  
can be used than one would care to give 
place to at the window4 ,here is where  
,cannas and ,caladiums will be found    
very effective4  ,ferns1 like the       
,boston and ,pierson varieties1 are     
excellent for not too sunny window-boxes
 because of their graceful drooping and 

spreading habit4 ,they combine well with
 pink-and-white ,fuchsias1 rose-colored 
,ivy ,geraniums1 and the white ,paris   
,daisy4 ,petunias--the single sorts     
only--are very satisfactory1 because    
they bloom so freely and constantly1 and
 have enough of the droop in them to    
make them as useful in covering the     
sides of the box as they are in         
spreading over its surface4 ,if pink and
 white varieties are used to the        
exclusion of the mottled and variegated 
kinds the effect will be found vastly   
more pleasing than where there is an    
indiscriminate jumbling of colors4  ,a  
foot in width1 a foot in depth1 and the 
length of the window frame to which it  
is to be attached is a good size for the
 average window-box4 ,great care must be
 taken to see that it is securely       
fastened to the frame1 and that it is   
given a strong support1 for the amount  
of earth it will contain will be of     
considerable weight when well saturated 
with water4  ,veranda boxes1 in which   

larger plants are to be used1 should be 
considerably deeper and wider than the  
ordinary window-box4 ,any box of the    
size desired that is substantial enough 
to hold a sufficient amount of soil will
 answer all purposes1 therefore it is   
not necessary to invest in expensive    
goods unless you have so much money that
 economy is no object to you4 ,if your  
plants grow as they ought to no one can 
tell1 by midsummer1 whether your box    
cost ten dollars or ten cents4 ,if it is
 of wood1 give it a coat of some        
neutral-colored paint before you fill   
it4     ,,spring ,,work ,,in ,,the      
,,garden   ,not much actual work can be 
done in the garden1 at the north1 before
 the middle of ,april4 ,but a good deal 
can be done toward getting ready for    
active work as soon as conditions become
 favorable4  ,right here let me say that
 it is a most excellent plan to do all  
that can be done to advantage as early  
in the season as possible1 for the      
reason that when the weather becomes    

warm1 work will come with a rush1 and in
 the hurry of it quite likely some of it
 will be slighted4 ,always aim to keep  
ahead of your work4  ,i believe1 as ,i  
have several times said1 in planning    
things4 ,your garden may be small--so   
small that you do not think it worth    
while to give much consideration to it  
in the way of making plans for it--but  
it will pay you to think over the       
arrangement of it in advance4 ,making   
garden doesn't consist simply in spading
 up a bed1 and putting seed into the    
ground4 ,thought should be given to the 
location and arrangement of each kind of
 flower you make use of4 ,the haphazard 
location of any plant is likely to do it
 injustice1 and the whole garden suffers
 in consequence4  ,make a mental picture
 of your garden as you would like to    
have it1 and then take an inventory of  
the material you have to work with1 and 
see how near you can come to the garden 
you have in mind4 ,try to find the      
proper place for every flower4 ,study up

 on habit1 and color1 and season of     
bloom1 and you will not be likely to get
 things into the wrong place as you will
 be almost sure to do if you do not give
 considerable thought to this matter4   
,there should be orderliness and system 
in the garden as well as in the house1  
and this can only come by knowing your  
plants1 and so locating them that each  
one of them will have the opportunity of
 making the most of itself4  ,beds can  
be spaded as soon as the frost is out of
 the ground1 as advised in the chapter  
on ,the ,garden of ,annuals1 but1 as was
 said in that chapter1 it is not        
advisable to do more with them at that  
time4 ,if the ground is worked over when
 wet1 the only result is that you get a 
good many small clods to take the place 
of large ones4 ,nothing is gained by    
being in a hurry with this part of the  
work4 ,pulverization of the soil can    
only be accomplished successfully after 
it has parted with the excessive        
moisture consequent on melting snows and

 spring rains4 ,therefore let it lie as 
thrown up by the spade until it is in a 
condition to crumble readily under the  
application of hoe or rake4  ,shrubs can
 be reset as soon as frost is out of the
 ground4 ,remove all defective roots    
when this is done4 ,make the soil in    
which you plant them quite rich1 and    
follow the instruction given in the     
chapter on ,shrubs as carefully as      
possible1 in the work of resetting4  ,if
 any changes are to be made in the      
border1 plan for them now4 ,decide just 
what you want to do4 ,don't allow any   
guesswork about it4 ,if you think out   
these things the home grounds will      
improve year by year1 and you will have 
a place to be proud of4 ,but the        
planless system which so many follow    
never gives satisfactory results4 ,it   
gives one the impression of something   
that started for somewhere but never    
arrived at its destination4  ,old border
 plants which have received little or no
 attention for years will be greatly    

benefited by transplanting at this      
season4 ,cut away all the older roots1  
and make use of none that are not strong
 and healthy4 ,give them a rich soil4   
,most of them will have renewed         
themselves by midsummer4  ,if you do not
 care to take up the old plants1 cut    
about them with a sharp knife1 and      
remove as many of the old roots as      
possible4 ,this is often almost as      
effective as transplanting1 and it does 
not involve as much labor4  ,the lawn   
should be given attention at this       
season4 ,rake off all unsightly refuse  
that may have collected on it during    
winter4 ,give it an application of some 
good fertilizer4 ,it is quite important 
that this should be done early in the   
season1 as grass begins to grow almost  
as soon as frost is out of the ground1  
and the sward should have something to  
feed on as soon as it is ready for work4
  ,go over all the shrubs and see if any
 need attention in the way of pruning4  
,but don't touch them with the pruning  

knife unless they really need it4 ,cut  
out old wood and weak branches1 if there
 are any1 and thin1 if too thick1 but   
leave the bush to train itself4 ,it     
knows more about this than you do6  ,get
 racks and trellises ready for summer   
use4 ,these are generally made on the   
spur of the moment1 out of whatever     
material comes handiest at the time they
 are needed4 ,such hurriedly constructed
 things are pretty sure to prove        
eyesores4 ,the gardener who takes pride 
in his work and his garden will not be  
satisfied with makeshifts1 but will see 
that whatever is needed1 along this     
line1 is well made1 and looks so well   
that he has no reason to be ashamed of  
it4 ,it should be painted a dark green  
or some other neutral color4  ,rake the 
mulch away from the plants that were    
given protection in fall as soon as the 
weather gets warm enough to start them  
to growing4 ,or it can be dug into the  
soil about them to act as a fertilizer4 
,get it out of sight1 for it always     

gives the garden an untidy effect if    
left about the plants4  ,go over the    
border plants and uproot all grass that 
has secured a foothold there4 ,a space  
of a foot should be left about all      
shrubs and perennials in which nothing  
should be allowed to grow4  ,if any     
plants seem out of place1 take them up  
and put them where they belong4 ,if you 
cannot find a place where they seem to  
fit in1 discard them4 ,the garden will  
be better off without them1 no matter   
how desirable they are1 than with them  
if their presence creates color-discord4
  ,peonies can be moved to advantage    
now4 ,if you cut about the old clump and
 lift a good deal of earth with it1 and 
do not interfere with its roots1 no harm
 will be done4 ,but if you mutilate its 
roots1 or expose them1 you need not     
expect any flowers from the plant for a 
season or two4  ,get stakes ready for   
the ,dahlias4 ,these should be painted  
some unobtrusive color4 ,if this is     
done1 and they are taken proper care of 

in fall1 they will last for years4 ,this
 is true of racks and trellises4        
,provide yourself with a hoe1 an        
iron-toothed rake1 a weeding-hook1 a    
trowel for transplanting1 a             
wheel-barrow1 a spade1 and a            
watering-pot4 ,see that the latter is   
made from galvanized iron if you want it
 to last4 ,tin pots will rust out in a  
short time4  ,take your watering-pot to 
the tinsmith and have him fit it out    
with an extension spout--one that can be
 slipped on to the end of the spout that
 comes with the pot4 ,let this be at    
least two feet in length4 ,this will    
enable you to apply water to the roots  
of plants standing well back in the     
border1 or across beds1 and get it just 
where it will do the most good1 but a   
short-spouted plant will not do this    
unless you take a good many unnecessary 
steps in making the application4  ,be   
sure to send in your orders for seed and
 plants early in the season4 ,have      
everything on hand1 ready for putting   

into the ground when the proper time    
comes to do this4     ,,summer ,,work   
,,in ,,the ,,garden   ,if weeds are kept
 down through the early part of the     
season1 there will not be a great deal  
of weeding to do in midsummer4 ,still1  
we cannot afford to take it for granted 
that they require no attention1 for they
 are most aggressive things1 and so     
persistent are they that they will take 
advantage of every opportunity for      
perpetuating themselves4 ,therefore be  
on the lookout for them1 and as soon as 
you discover one that has thought to    
escape your notice by hiding behind some
 flowering plant1 uproot it4 ,one weed  
will furnish seed enough to fill the    
entire garden with plants next year if  
let alone4  ,if the season happens to be
 very dry1 some of your                 
plants--,dahlias1 for instance1--will   
have to be watered if you want them to  
amount to anything4 ,these must have    
moisture at their roots in order to     
flower well4  ,other plants may be able 

to get along with a mulch of            
grass-clippings from the lawn4 ,most of 
our annuals will stand quite a drouth4  
,if one is connected with a system of   
waterworks it is an easy matter to tide 
a garden over a drouth4 ,but where there
 is nothing but the pump to depend on   
for a supply of water1 ,i would not     
advise beginning artificial watering    
except in rare cases1 like that of the  
,dahlia4 ,we always find that so much   
work is required in supplying our plants
 from the pump that after a little we   
abandon the undertaking1 and the result 
is that the plants we set out to be kind
 to are left in a worse condition1 when 
we give up our spasmodic attention1 than
 they would have been in if we had not  
begun it4  ,it is well to use the hoe   
constantly if the season is a dry one4  
,keep the surface of the soil open that 
it may take in all the moisture         
possible4 ,on no account allow it to    
become crusted over4  ,seed of          
perennials can be sown now to furnish   

plants for flowering next season4  ,look
 to the ,dahlias1 and make sure they are
 properly staked4  ,be on the lookout   
for black beetle on ,aster and          
,chrysanthemum4 ,as soon as one is      
discovered apply ,nicoticide1 and apply 
it thoroughly1 all over the plant4      
,promptness is demanded in fighting this
 voracious pest4  ,during the latter    
part of summer1 when the extreme hot    
weather that we have at the north sets  
in1 cut away nearly all the top of the  
,pansy-plants4 ,this will give the      
plants a chance to rest during the      
season when they are not equal to the   
task of flowering1 because of the hot1  
dry weather which is so trying to them4 
,along in ,september1 when the weather  
becomes cooler1 they will take a fresh  
start and give us fine flowers all      
through the fall4  ,look over the       
perennials and satisfy yourself that    
there is color-harmony everywhere4 ,if  
you find a discord anywhere1 mark the   
plant that makes it for removal later   

on4  ,be sure to keep all seed from     
developing on the ,sweet ,peas4 ,this   
you must do if you would have a good    
crop of flowers during the fall months4 
,if any plants seem too thick1 sacrifice
 some of them promptly4 ,no plant can   
develop itself satisfactorily if it is  
crowded4  ,poor plants will find their  
way into all collections4 ,if you find  
one in yours1 remove it at once4 ,there 
are so many good ones at our disposal   
that we cannot afford to give place1    
even for a season1 to an inferior kind4 
,let neatness prevail everywhere4       
,gather up dead leaves and fallen       
flowers1 cut away the stalks of plants  
upon which no more flowers can be       
expected1 and keep the walks looking as 
if you expected visitors at any time1   
and were determined not to be caught in 
untidy garments4  ,while the good       
gardener can always find something to do
 in the garden1 he will not have as much
 work on his hands at this season as at 
any other1 therefore it is the time in  

which he can get the greatest amount of 
pleasure from his flowers1 and in       
proportion to his care of them earlier  
in the season will be the pleasure they 
afford now4     ,,fall ,,work ,,in ,,the
 ,,garden   ,because the growth of grass
 on the lawn is not as luxuriant and    
rapid in fall as it is in midsummer1 is 
no reason why the lawn should be        
neglected after summer is over4 ,it     
should be mowed whenever the grass gets 
too tall to look well1 clear up to the  
end of the season4 ,the neat and        
attractive appearance of the            
home-grounds depends more upon the lawn 
than anything else about them4 ,it is a 
good plan to fertilize it well in fall1 
thus enabling the roots of the sward to 
store up nutriment for the coming       
season4 ,fine bonemeal is as good for   
this purpose as anything ,i know of     
except barnyard manure1 and it is       
superior to that in one respect--it does
 not contain the seeds of weeds4  ,go   
over the garden before the end of the   

season and gather up all plants that    
have completed their work4 ,if we       
neglect to give attention to the beds   
now that the flowering-period is over1 a
 general appearance of untidiness will  
soon dominate everything4 ,much of the  
depressing effect of late fall is due to
 this lack of attention4 ,the prompt    
removal of all unsightly objects will   
keep the grounds looking clean after the
 season has passed its prime1 and we all
 know what the ,good ,book's estimate of
 cleanliness is4  ,seedlings of such    
perennials as ,hollyhock1 ,delphinium1  
and other plants of similar character1  
ought to be transplanted to the places  
they are to occupy next season by the   
last of ,september4 ,if care is taken   
not to disturb their roots when you lift
 them they will receive no check4  ,if  
you give your ,hybrid ,perpetual ,roses 
a good1 sharp cutting-back early in     
,september1 and manure the soil about   
them well1 you may reasonably expect a  
few fine flowers from them later on4    

,and what is more delightful than a     
perfect ,rose gathered from your own    
garden just at the edge of winter8      
,perennials can be divided and reset1 if
 necessary1 immediately after they have 
ripened off the growth of the present   
year4 ,if this work is done now1 there  
will be just so much less to do in      
spring4  ,before the coming of cold     
weather all tools used in gardening     
operations should be gathered up and    
stored under cover4 ,if any repairs are 
needed1 make note of them1 and see that 
the work is done in winter1 so that     
everything needed in spring may be in   
readiness for use4 ,it is a good plan to
 give all wood-work a coat of paint at  
the time it is stored away1 and to go   
over the metal part of every tool with a
 wash of vaseline to prevent rust4      
,have a general house-cleaning before   
winter sets in4 ,cut away the stalks of 
the perennials4 ,pull up all annuals4   
,rake up the leaves1 and add everything 
of this kind to the compost heap4 ,all  

garden refuse should find its way there1
 to be transmuted by the alchemy of sun 
and rain1 and the disintegrating forces 
of nature into that most valuable of    
soil constituents--humus4 ,let nothing  
that has any value in it be wasted4     
,after hard frosts have killed the tops 
of ,dahlias1 ,cannas1 ,caladiums and    
,gladioluses1 their roots should be dug1
 on some warm and sunny day1 and        
prepared for storage in the cellar or   
closet4 ,spread them out in the         
sunshine1 and leave them there until the
 soil that was dug with them is dry     
enough to crumble away from them4 ,at   
night cover with something to keep out  
the cold1 and expose them to the        
curative effects of the sun next day4   
,it may be necessary to do this several 
days in succession4 ,the great amount of
 moisture which they contain when first 
dug should be given a chance to         
evaporate to a considerable extent      
before it will be safe to put them away 
for the winter4 ,cut off the old stalks 

close to the root before storing4       
,while clearing the beds of dead plants 
and leaves be on the lookout for insects
 of various kinds4 ,the cut-worm may    
still be in evidence1 and may be found  
among the rubbish which you gather up4  
,and if found1 destroy it on the spot4  
,this precaution will go far toward     
safeguarding plants in spring1 many of  
which are annually injured by the       
depredations of this pest4  ,when you   
are sure that cold weather is at hand1  
cover the bulb-bed with coarse manure or
 litter1 hay1 or straw1 as advised in   
the chapter on ,the ,bulb ,garden4 ,and 
give your ,roses the protection advised 
in the chapter on ,the ,rose4  ,cover   
,pansies lightly with leaves or         
evergreen branches4 ,if you have mulch  
enough1 apply some to your hardy plants1
 and next spring note the difference    
between them and the plants which were  
not given any protection4     ,,by ,,way
 ,,of ,,postscript  ,a ,,chapter ,,of   
,,afterthoughts ,,which ,,the ,,reader  

,,cannot ,,afford ,,to ,,miss           
,illustration3 ,,planting ,,to ,,hide   
,,foundation ,,walls  ,think things out 
for yourself4 ,do not try to copy       
anybody else's garden1 as so many       
attempt to do4 ,be original4 ,what you  
see on your neighbor's home grounds may 
suggest something similar for your own  
grounds1 but be content with the idea   
suggested4 ,he may not have a patent on 
his own working-out of the idea--indeed1
 the idea may not have been one of his  
originating--but the manner in which he 
has expressed it is his own and you     
should respect his right to it4         
,imitation of what others have done1 or 
are doing1 is likely to spoil           
everything4 ,if the best you can do is  
to copy your neighbor's work servilely  
in all its details1 turn your attention 
to something else4 ,if all the          
flower-gardens in the neighborhood were 
simply duplicates of each other in      
material and arrangement1 the uniformity
 of them would be so monotonous in      

effect that it would be a relief to find
 a place that was without a garden4     
99       99       99       99       99  
,never imitate anything that you see on 
the grounds of wealthy people with cheap
 and inferior material4 ,the result will
 be a sham that will deceive no one1 and
 you will soon tire of it1 and the      
sooner the better4 ,be honest4 ,if you  
have only cheap material to work with1  
be satisfied with unambitious           
undertakings4 ,let them be in keeping   
with what you have to work with--simple1
 unpretentious1 and without any attempt 
in the way of deception4 ,the humblest  
home can be made attractive by holding  
fast to the principle of honesty in     
everything that is done about it4 ,it is
 not necessary to imitate in order to   
make it attractive4 ,think out things   
for yourself1 and endeavor to do the    
best you can with the material at hand1 
and under the conditions that prevail1  
and be content with that4 ,the result   
will afford you vastly more             

satisfaction1 even if it does not       
measure up to what you would like1 than 
you can possibly realize by imitating   
another's work4 ,there is a deal of     
pleasure in being able to say about     
one's home or garden1 ,it may not be as 
fine as my neighbor's1 but1 such as it  
is1 it is all mine4 ,i have put myself  
into it4 ,it may be plain and humble1   
but--there's honesty in it4 ,and that is
 a feature you have a right to be proud 
of4         99       99       99        
99       99  ,never make the mistake of 
neglecting good old plants for the sake 
of something new1 simply because it is  
new4 ,old plants--plants that have held 
their own against all newcomers--are the
 ones to depend on4 ,the fact that they 
have held their own is sufficient proof 
of their merits4 ,had they been inferior
 in any respect they would have dropped 
from notice long ago1 like the novelties
 that aspired to take their places4 ,old
 plants are like old friends1 old       
wine--all the better because of their   

age4 ,there's something substantial     
about them4 ,we do not tire of them4 ,we
 know what to expect of them1 and they  
never disappoint us4         99       99
       99       99       99  ,never make
 the mistake of thinking the shape of a 
bed deserves more consideration than    
what you put into the bed4 ,it's the    
flower that deserves attention1--not the
 bed it grows in4 ,it isn't treating a  
flower with proper respect to give it   
secondary place4         99       99    
99       99       99  ,many an amateur  
gardener tries to have a little of      
everything1 and the result is that he   
has nothing worth speaking of1 because  
quality has been sacrificed to quantity4
 ,grow only as many flowers as you can  
grow well1 and be wise in selecting only
 such kinds as do best under the        
conditions in which they must be grown4 
,depend upon kinds that have been tried 
and not found wanting unless you have a 
fondness for experimenting4         99  
99       99       99       99  ,no      

really artistic results can be secured  
by the use of seeds in which all colors 
are mixed4 ,if you desire harmonious    
effects1 you will have to purchase seed 
in which each color is by itself4 ,a few
 varieties in which there is perfect    
color-harmony will please you far more  
than a collection in which all the      
colors of the rainbow are represented4  
,take the ,sweet ,pea as an illustration
 of this idea3 ,from a package of mixed 
seed you will get a score of different  
colors or shades1 and many of these1    
though beautiful in themselves1 will    
produce positive discord when grown side
 by side4 ,the eye of the person who has
 fine color-sense will be pained by the 
lack of harmony4 ,but confine your      
selection to the soft pinks1 the        
delicate lavenders1 and the pure whites1
 and the result will be something to    
delight the artistic eye--restful1      
harmonious1 and as pleasing as a strain 
of exquisite poetry--in fact1 a poem in 
color4 ,what is true of the ,sweet ,pea1

 in this respect1 is equally true of all
 plants which range through a great     
variety of colors4 ,bear this in mind   
when you select seeds for your garden of
 annuals4         99       99       99  
99       99  ,don't throw away any      
plants that are worth growing4 ,if you  
have no use for them some of your       
neighbors will doubtless be glad to get 
them4 ,give them to the poor children of
 your neighborhood1 and tell them how to
 care for them1 and you will not only be
 doing a kind deed but you will be      
putting into the life that needs        
uplifting and refining influences a     
means of help and education that you    
little guess the power of for good4 ,for
 every plant is a teacher1 and a        
preacher of the gospel of beauty1 and   
its mission is to brighten and broaden  
every life that comes under its         
influence4 ,all that it asks is an      
opportunity to fulfill that mission4    
99       99       99       99       99  
,if no one cares for the plants you have

 no use for1 give them a place in       
out-of-the-way nooks and corners--in the
 roadside1 even1 if there is no other   
place for them4 ,a stock of this kind1  
to draw upon in case any of your old    
plants fail in winter1 will save expense
 and trouble1 and prevent bare spots    
from detracting from the appearance of  
the home grounds4 ,it is always well to 
have a few plants in reserve for just   
such emergencies as this4 ,very         
frequently the odds-and-ends corner of  
the garden is the most attractive       
feature in it4         99       99      
99       99       99  ,many a place is  
all but spoiled because its owner finds 
it difficult to confine his selection of
 plants for it to the number it will    
conveniently accommodate4 ,there are so 
many desirable ones to choose from that 
it is no easy matter to determine which 
you will have1 because--you want them   
all6 ,but one must be governed by the   
conditions that cannot be changed4      
,unfortunately the home-lot is not      

elastic4 ,small grounds necessitate     
small collections if we would avoid     
cluttering up the place in a manner that
 makes it impossible to grow anything   
well4 ,shrubs must have elbow-room in   
order to display their attractions to   
the best advantage4 ,keep this in mind1 
and set out only as many as there will  
be room for when they have fully        
developed4 ,it may cost you a pang to   
discard an old favorite1 but often it   
has to be done out of regard for the    
future welfare of the kinds you feel you
 must have4 ,if you overstock your      
garden1 it will give you many pangs to  
see how the plants in it suffer from the
 effect of crowding4 ,if you cannot have
 all the good things1 have the very best
 of the list1 and try to grow them so   
well that they will make up in quality  
for the lack in quantity4 ,i know of a  
little garden in which but three plants 
grow1 but the owner of them gives them  
such care that these three plants       
attract more attention from passers-by  

than any other garden on that street4   
99       99       99       99       99  
,be methodical in your garden-work4     
,keep watch of everything1 and when you 
see something that needs doing1 do it4  
,and do it well4 ,one secret of success 
in gardening is in doing everything as  
if it was the one thing to be done4     
,slight nothing4         99       99    
99       99       99  ,for vines that do
 not grow thick enough to hide          
everything with their foliage1 a lattice
 framework of lath1 painted white1 is   
the most satisfactory support1 because  
of the pleasing color-contrast between  
it and the plants trained over it4 ,both
 support and plant will be ornamental1  
and one will admirably supplement the   
other4 ,the lattice will be an          
attractive feature of the garden when   
the vine that grew over it is dead1 if  
it is kept neatly painted4         99   
99       99       99       99  ,but for 
the rampant grower a coarse-meshed wire 
netting is just as good1 and            

considerably less expensive1 in the long
 run1 as it will do duty for many years1
 if taken care of at the end of the     
season4 ,roll it up and put it under    
cover before the fall rains set in4     
99       99       99       99       99  
,the simple fact of newness is nothing  
in any plant's favor4 ,unless it has    
real merit1 it will not find purchasers 
after the first season4 ,better wait    
until you know what a plant is before   
investing in it4 ,we have so many       
excellent plants with whose good        
qualities we are familiar that it is not
 necessary to run any risks of this     
kind4         99       99       99      
99       99  ,many home-owners make the 
mistake of putting down boardwalks about
 the dwelling and yard4 ,such a walk is 
never attractive1 and it has not the    
merit of durability1 for after a year or
 two it will need repairs1 and from that
 time on it will be a constant source of
 expense4 ,the variegated appearance of 
a patched-up boardwalk will seriously   

detract from the attractiveness of any  
garden4 ,it may cost more1 at first1 to 
put down cement walks1--though ,i am    
inclined to doubt this1 at the present  
price of lumber--but such walks are good
 for a lifetime1 if properly            
constructed1 therefore much cheaper in  
the end4 ,there can be no two opinions  
as to their superior appearance4 ,their 
cool gray color brings them into harmony
 with their surroundings4 ,they are     
never obtrusive4 ,they are easily       
cleaned1 both summer and winter4 ,and   
the home-maker can put them in quite as 
well as the professional worker in      
cement if he sets out to do so1 though  
he may be longer at the work4         99
       99       99       99       99    
,but make sure about the location of    
your paths before putting in cement     
walks4 ,that is--be quite sure that you 
know where you want them to be4 ,a      
boardwalk can be changed at any time    
with but little trouble if you get it in
 the wrong place1 but a cement walk1    

once down1 is down for all time1 unless 
you are willing to spend a good deal of 
hard labor in its removal4         99   
99       99       99       99  ,never do
 spasmodic work in the garden4 ,the     
unwise gardener neglects what needs     
doing until so much has accumulated that
 he is forced to give it attention1 and 
then he hurries in his efforts to       
dispose of it1 and the consequence is   
that much of it is likely to be so      
poorly done that plants suffer nearly as
 much from his hasty operations as they 
did from neglect4 ,do whatever needs    
doing in a systematic way1 and keep     
ahead of your work4 ,never be driven by 
it4         99       99       99        
99       99  ,it is one of the most     
satisfactory laws of ,nature that we can
 have only what we work for4 ,too many  
seem to forget this1 and think that     
because a flower hasn't a market value1 
like corn or wheat1 it ought to grow    
without any attention on their part4    
,such persons do not understand the real

 value of a flower1 which is none the   
less because it cannot be computed on   
the basis of a dollars-and-cents        
calculation4         99       99        
99       99       99  ,man1 wife1 and   
all the children ought to work together 
for whatever adds beauty to the home1   
and nothing is more effective in this   
line than a good flower-garden4 ,i can  
remember when it was considered an      
indication of weakness for a man to     
admit that he was fond of flowers4 ,i   
look back with amusement to my own      
experience in this respect4 ,because ,i 
loved flowers so well1 when ,i was a wee
 bit of a lad1 that ,i attempted to grow
 them1 ,i was often laughed at for being
 a girl-boy4 ,he ought to have been a   
girl1 one of my uncles used to say4     
,you'll have to learn him to do sewing  
and housework4 ,it often stung me to    
anger to listen to these sarcastic      
remarks1 but ,i am glad that my love for
 flowers was strong enough to keep me at
 work among them1 for ,i know that ,i am

 a better man to-day than ,i would have 
been had ,i allowed myself to be        
ridiculed out of my love for them4 ,if  
the children manifest a desire to have  
little gardens of their own encourage   
them to do so1 and feel sure that the   
cultivation of them will prove to be a  
strong factor in the development of the 
child mind4         99       99       99
       99       99  ,seedling           
,hollyhocks almost always look well when
 winter comes1 but in spring we find    
their leaves decaying from the effect of
 too much moisture1 and this decay is   
likely to be communicated to the crown  
of the plant1 and that means failure4   
,of late years ,i protect my plants by  
inverting small boxes over them4 ,the   
sides of these boxes are bored full of  
holes to admit air1 which must be       
allowed to circulate freely about the   
plant1 or it will smother4 ,i invert a  
box over the plant after filling it with
 leaves1 and draw more leaves about the 
outside of it4 ,this prevents water from

 coming in contact with the soft1       
sponge-like foliage1 and the plant comes
 out in spring almost as green as it was
 in fall4         99       99       99  
99       99  ,plants can be moved with  
comparative safety any time during the  
summer if one is careful to disturb     
their roots as little as possible4 ,take
 them up with a large amount of soil    
adhering1 and handle so carefully that  
it will not break apart4 ,it is a good  
plan to apply enough water before       
attempting to lift them to thoroughly   
saturate all the soil containing the    
roots4 ,this will hold the earth        
together1 and prevent exposure of the   
roots1 which is the main thing to guard 
against4         99       99       99   
99       99  ,after putting the plant in
 place1 apply water liberally1 and then 
mulch the soil about it with            
grass-clippings or manure4 ,of course   
removal at that season will check the   
growth of the plant to a considerable   
extent1 and probably end its usefulness 

for the remainder of the season4 ,unless
 absolutely necessary1 ,i would not     
attempt the work at this time1 for      
spring and fall are the proper seasons  
for doing it4         99       99       
99       99       99  ,in a letter      
recently received a lady asks this      
question3 ,do you believe in            
flower-shows8 ,if you think they help   
the cause of flower-growing1 will you   
kindly tell me how to go to work to     
organize such a society8  ,to the first 
question ,i reply3 ,i do believe in     
flower-shows and horticultural societies
 when they are calculated to increase   
the love and appreciation of flowers as 
flowers1 rather than to call attention  
to the skill of the florist in producing
 freaks which are only attractive as    
curiosities4 ,i sincerely hope that the 
day of ,chrysanthemums a foot across and
 ,roses as large as small ,cabbages is  
on the wane4         99       99        
99       99       99  ,the thing to do  
in organizing a floral association      

is--to paraphrase ,horace ,greeley's    
famous advice as to the resumption of   
specie payment--to organize6 ,in other  
words1 to get right down to business and
 give the proposed society a start by   
bringing flower-loving people together1 
and beginning to work without wasting   
time on unnecessary details4 ,if you    
make use of much red tape you will kill 
the undertaking at the outset4 ,simply  
form your society and appoint your      
committees1 and you will find that the  
various matters which perplex you when  
looked at in the whole will readily     
adjust themselves to the conditions that
 arise as the society goes on with its  
work4 ,put theories aside1 and do       
something1 and you will find very little
 difficulty in making your society      
successful if you can secure a dozen    
really interested persons as members4 ,i
 would be glad to know that such a      
society existed in every community4     
99       99       99       99       99  
,i would advise my readers never to have

 anything to do with plant-peddlers4 ,of
 course it is possible for the man who  
goes about the country with plants for  
sale to be as honest as any other man1  
but we see so few indications of the    
possession of honest principles by the  
majority of these men that we have come 
to consider them all unreliable1 and1 as
 a matter of protection1 we have to     
refuse to patronize any of them at the  
risk of doing injustice to those who may
 be strictly reliable4 ,they will sell  
you ,roses that have a different colored
 flower each month throughout the       
season1 blue ,roses1 ,resurrection      
,plants that come to life at a snap of  
the finger1 and are equally valuable for
 decorative purposes and for keeping    
moths out of clothing1 and numerous     
other things rare1 wonderful1 and all   
high priced1 every one of which can be  
classed among the humbugs4 ,patronize   
dealers in whom you are justified in    
having confidence because of a          
well-established reputation for fair    

dealing4         99       99       99   
99       99  ,the ,hollyhock is often   
attacked by what is called rust4 ,the   
leaves become brown1 and dry at the     
edges1 and the entire plant has a look  
much like that of a nail which has been 
for some time in water1 hence the       
popular name of the disease4 ,this rust 
is really a fungoid trouble1 and unless 
it is promptly checked it will soon     
spread to other plants4 ,if it appears  
on several plants at the same time1 ,i  
would advise cutting them1 and burning  
every branch and stalk4 ,if but one     
plant is attacked1 ,i would spray it    
with ,bordeaux ,mixture1 which can now  
be obtained in paste form from most     
florists4 ,this is the only dependable  
remedy ,i know of for the fungus ills   
that plants are heir to4 ,asparagus is  
often so badly affected with it1 of late
 years1 that many growers have been     
obliged to mow down their plants and    
burn their tops in midsummer1 in their  
efforts to save their stock4 ,never     

leave any of the cut-off portions of a  
plant on the ground1 thinking that      
cutting down is all that is necessary4  
,the fungus spores will survive the     
winter1 and be ready for work in spring4
 ,burn everything4         99       99  
99       99       99  ,a house whose    
foundation walls are left fully exposed 
always has an unfinished look4 ,but if  
we hide them by shrubs and flowering    
plants the place takes on a look of     
completion1 and the effect is so        
pleasing that we wonder why any house   
should be left with bare walls4 ,the    
plants about it seem to unite it with   
the grounds in such a manner that it    
becomes a part of them4 ,but the house  
whose walls are without the grace of    
green things growing1 always suggest    
that verse in the ,good ,book which     
tells of being in the world1 but not of 
it4  ,i would always surround the       
dwelling with shrubs and perennials1 and
 use annuals and bulbs between them and 
the paths that run around the house4    

99       99       99       99       99  
,on the north side of a dwelling        
large-growing ,ferns can be planted with
 fine effect4 ,these should be gathered 
in spring1 and a good deal of native    
soil should be brought with them from   
the woods4 ,they will not amount to much
 the first year1 but they will afford   
you a great deal of pleasure thereafter4
 ,use in front of them such shade-loving
 plants as ,lily of the ,valley and     
,myosotis4         99       99       99 
99       99  ,nowadays tropical effects 
are greatly admired4 ,we have but few   
plants that adapt themselves to this    
phase of gardening4 ,canna1 ,caladium1  
,ricinus1 ,coleus1 ,golden ,feather     
,pyrethrum and the gray ,centaurea cover
 pretty nearly the entire list4 ,but by 
varying the combinations that can be    
made with them the amateur can produce  
many new and pleasing effects1 thus     
avoiding the monotony which results from
 simply copying the beds that we see    
year after year in the public parks1    

from whose likeness to each other we get
 the impression that no other           
combination can be made4 ,study out new 
arrangements for yourself4 ,plant them1 
group them1 use them as backgrounds for 
flowering plants1 mass them in open     
spaces in the border4 ,do not get the   
idea that they must always be used by   
themselves4 ,cannas1 because of the     
great variety of color in their foliage1
 can be made attractive when used alone1
 but the others depend upon combination 
with other plants for the contrast which
 brings out and emphasizes their        
attractive features4         99       99
       99       99       99  ,speaking  
of new arrangements reminds me to say   
that the amateur gardener ought always  
to plan for original effects if he or   
she would get out of gardening all the  
pleasure there is in it4 ,it may seem   
almost necessary for the beginner to    
copy the ideas of others in the         
arrangement of the garden1 to a         
considerable extent1 but he should not  

get into the slavish habit of doing so4 
,hazlitt says3 ,originality implies     
independence of opinion4 ,it consists in
 seeing for one's self4 ,that's it1     
exactly4 ,study your plants4 ,find out  
their possibilities4 ,and then plan     
arrangements of your own for next       
season4 ,have an opinion of your own1   
and be independent enough to attempt its
 carrying out4 ,don't be afraid of      
yourself4 ,originate6 ,originate6       
,originate6         99       99       99
       99       99  ,when you invest    
your money in a fine plant you do it for
 the pleasure of yourself and family4   
,when a neighbor comes along and admires
 it1 and asks you to divide it with her1
 don't let yourself be frightened into  
doing so from regard of what she may say
 or think if you refuse4 ,tell her where
 she can get a plant like it1 but don't 
spoil your own plant for anybody4  ,i am
 well aware that advice of this kind may
 seem selfish1 but it is not4 ,there's  
no good reason why my neighbor should   

not get his plants in the same way ,i   
got mine4 ,i buy with the idea of       
beautifying my home with them1 and this 
,i cannot do so long as ,i yield to     
everybody's request for a slip or a     
root4  ,i have in mind a woman who1 some
 years ago1 invested in a rare variety  
of ,peony4 ,when her plant came into    
bloom her friends admired it so much    
that they all declared they must have a 
toe of it4 ,the poor woman hated        
terribly to disturb her plant1 for she  
was quite sure what the result would be1
 having had considerable experience with
 ,peonies1 but she lacked the courage to
 say no1 and the consequence was that   
she gave a root to the first applicant1 
and that made it impossible for her to  
refuse the second one and those who came
 after1 and from that time to this she  
has kept giving away toes1 and her plant
 is a poor little thing to-day1 not much
 larger than when it was first planted1 
while plants grown from it are large and
 fine4 ,she wouldn't mind it so much if 

her friends were willing to divide their
 plants with their friends1 but they    
will not do this for fear of spoiling   
them4 ,instead1 they send their friends 
to her4 ,this is a fact1 and ,i presume 
it can be duplicated in almost every    
neighborhood4         99       99       
99       99       99  ,the flower-loving
 person is1 as a general thing1 a very  
generous person1 and he takes delight in
 dividing his plants with others when he
 can do so without injuring them4 ,he is
 glad to do this because of his love for
 flowers1 and the pleasure it affords   
him to get others interested in them and
 their culture4 ,but there is such a    
thing as being overgenerous4 ,our motto 
should be1 ,home's garden first1 my     
neighbor's garden afterward4  ,it is    
generally thoughtlessness which prompts 
people to ask us to divide our choice   
plants with them4 ,if we were to be     
frank with them1 and tell them why we do
 not care to do this1 they would readily
 understand the situation1 and1 instead 

of blaming us for our refusal1 they     
would blame themselves for having been  
so thoughtlessly selfish as to have made
 the request4         99       99       
99       99       99  ,the question is  
often asked3  ,why can't we save our own
 flower-seeds8 ,aren't the plants we    
grow just as healthy as those of the    
seedsmen we patronize year after year8  
,ought not the seed from them to be just
 as good as that we buy8  ,just as good1
 no doubt1 in one sense1 and not as     
good1 in another4 ,we grow our plants   
for their flowers4 ,the seedsmen grow   
theirs for their seed1 and in order to  
secure the very best article they give  
their plants care and culture that ours 
are not likely to get4 ,their methods   
are calculated to result in constant    
improvement4 ,ours tend in the other    
direction4 ,the person who grows plants 
year after year from home-grown seed    
will almost invariably tell you that her
 plants seem to be running out4  ,the   
remedy for this state of things is to   

get fresh seed1 each year1 from the men 
who understand how to grow it to        
perfection4         99       99       99
       99       99  ,one ought always to
 keep his shrubs and choice plants      
labelled so that no mistake can be made 
as to variety4 ,we may be on speaking   
terms with the whole ,smith family1 but 
we never feel really acquainted with    
them until we know which is ,john1 or   
,susan1 or ,william4 ,it ought to be so 
in our friendship with our plants4 ,who 
that loves ,roses would be content to   
speak of ,la ,france1 and ,madame       
,plantier1 and ,captain ,christy simply 
as ,roses8 ,we must be on such intimate 
terms with them that each one has a     
personality of its own for us4 ,then we 
know them1 and not till then4         99
       99       99       99       99    
,the best label to make use of is a zinc
 one1 because it is almost everlasting1 
while a wooden one is short lived1 and  
whatever is written on it soon becomes  
indistinct4         99       99       99

       99       99  ,in attaching any   
label to a plant1 be careful not to     
twist the wire with which you attach it 
so tightly that it will cut into the    
branch4 ,as the branch grows the wire   
will shut off the circulation of the    
plant's life-blood through that branch1 
and the result will be disastrous to    
that portion of the plant4         99   
99       99       99       99           
,different varieties of perennials ought
 to be kept track of quite as much as in
 the case of shrubs4 ,as the old stalks 
die away and are cut off each season1   
there is no part of the plant to which a
 label can be attached with any         
permanence4 ,there are iron sockets on  
the market into which the piece of wood 
bearing the name of the variety can be  
inserted4 ,an all-wool label would      
speedily decay in contact with the soil4
         99       99       99       99  
99  ,sometimes we get very amusing      
letters from parties in search of       
information4 ,not long ago a woman sent 

me a leaf from her ,boston ,fern1       
calling my attention to the bugs on the 
lower side of it1 and asking how she    
could get rid of them4 ,how did ,i      
suppose they contrived to arrange       
themselves with such regularity8 ,a     
little careful investigation would have 
shown her that the rows of bugs were    
seed-spores4 ,if anything about your    
plants puzzles you1 use your eyes and   
your intelligence1 and endeavor to find 
out the whys and wherefores for         
yourself4 ,you will enjoy doing this    
when you once get into the habit of it4 
,information that comes to us through   
our own efforts is always appreciated   
much more than that which comes to us   
second-hand4 ,make a practice of        
personal investigation in order to get  
at a solution of the problems that will 
constantly confront you in gardening    
operations4         99       99       99
       99       99  ,in answer to       
another correspondent who asked me to   
recommend some thoroughly reliable      

fertilizer1 ,i advised old cow-manure4  
,back came a letter1 saying ,i had      
neglected to state how old the cow ought
 to be6         99       99       99    
99       99  ,but the funny things are  
not all said by our correspondents4 ,i  
lately came across an article credited  
to a leading ,english gardening magazine
 in which the statement was made that a 
certain kind of weed closely resembling 
the ,onion often located itself in the  
,onion-bed in order to escape the       
vigilance of the weed-puller1 its       
instinct telling it that its resemblance
 to the ,onion would deceive the        
gardener6 ,is anyone foolish enough to  
believe that the weed knew just where to
 locate itself1 and had the ability to  
put itself there8 ,one can but laugh at 
such scientific statements1 and yet it  
seems too bad to have people humbugged  
so4         99       99       99        
99       99  ,a woman writes3 ,i don't  
care very much about plants4 ,i never   
did4 ,but almost everybody grows them1  

nowadays1 and ,i'd like to have a few   
for my parlor1 so as to be in style4    
,you know the old saying that 'one might
 as well be out of the world as out of  
fashion4' ,i wish you'd tell me what to 
get1 and how to take care of it4 ,i want
 something that will just about take    
care of itself4 ,i don't want anything  
,i'll have to bother with4  ,my advice  
to this correspondent was1 ,don't try to
 grow plants4  ,the fact is1 the person 
who doesn't grow them out of love for   
them will never succeed with them1      
therefore it would be well for such     
persons not to attempt their culture4   
,this for the plant's sake1 as well as  
their own4 ,plants call for something4  
,plants ask for something more than a   
regular supply of food and water4 ,they 
must have that sympathy1--that          
friendship--which enables one to        
understand them and their needs1 and    
treat them accordingly4 ,this knowledge 
will come through intuition and from    
keen1 intelligent observation1 such as  

only a real plant-lover will be likely  
to give4 ,those who grow plants--or     
attempt to grow them--simply because    
their neighbors do so will never bring  
to their cultivation that careful1      
conscientious attention which alone can 
result in success4 ,the idea of growing 
a flower because it is the fashion to do
 so6         99       99       99       
99       99  ,it may seem to some who   
read what ,i have said above that ,i do 
not encourage the cultivation of flowers
 by the masses4 ,that's a wrong         
conclusion to jump at4 ,i would like to 
have everybody the owner of a           
flower-garden4 ,those who have never    
attempted the culture of flowers are    
very likely to develop a love for them  
of whose existence1 of the possibility  
of which1 they had never dreamed4 ,a    
dormant feeling is kindled into activity
 by our contact with them4 ,but these   
persons must begin from a better motive 
than a desire to have them simply       
because it is the style4 ,the desire to 

succeed with them because you like them 
will insure success4 ,those who would   
have flowers because it is the fashion  
to have them may experience a sort of   
satisfaction in the possession of them1 
but this is a feeling utterly unlike the
 pleasure known to those who grow       
flowers because they love them4         
99       99       99       99       99  
,i am not a believer in the knack of    
flower-growing in the sense that some   
are born with a special ability in that 
line1 or1 as some would say1 with a gift
 that way4 ,we often hear it said1      
,flowers will grow for her if she just  
looks at them4 ,this is a wrong         
conclusion to arrive at in the cases of 
those who are successful with them4     
,they do something more than simply look
 at their plants4 ,they take intelligent
 care of them4 ,some may acquire this   
ability easier and sooner than others1  
but it is a knack that anyone may attain
 to who is willing to keep his eyes     
open1 and reason from cause to effect4  

,don't get the idea that success at     
plant-growing comes without observation1
 thought1 and work4 ,all the knack you  
need to have is a liking for flowers1   
and a desire to understand how you can  
best meet their special requirements4   
,in other words1 the will to succeed    
will find out the way to that result4   
99       99       99       99       99  
,just now1 while ,i am at work on the   
last pages of this book1 comes an       
inquiry1 which ,i answer here because   
the subject of it is one of general     
interest3 ,every spring our ,crimson    
,rambler ,roses are infested with       
thousands of green plant-lice4 ,the new 
shoots will be literally covered with   
them4 ,and in fall the stalks of our    
,rudbeckia are as thickly covered with a
 red aphis1 which makes it impossible   
for us to use it for cut-flower work4   
,is there a remedy for these troubles8  
,yes4 ,nicoticide will rid the plants of
 their enemies if applied thoroughly1   
and persistently4 ,one application may  

not accomplish the desired result1      
because of failure to reach all portions
 of the plant with it1 but a second or a
 third application will do the work4    
99       99       99       99       99  
,by way of conclusion ,i want to urge   
women with nerves to take the gardening 
treatment4 ,many housewives are martyrs 
to a prison-life4 ,they are shut up in  
the house from year's end to year's end1
 away from pleasant sights1 sounds1     
fresh air1 and sunshine4 ,if we can get 
such a woman into the garden for a      
half-hour each day1 throughout the      
summer1 we can make a new woman of her4 
,work among flowers1 where the air is   
pure and sweet1 and sunshine is a tonic1
 and companionship is cheerful1 will    
lift her out of her work and worry1 and 
body and mind will grow stronger1 and   
new life1 new health1 new energy will   
come to her1 and the cares and vexations
 that made life a burden1 because of the
 nervous strain resulting from them1    
will take wings and fly away4           

,garden-work is the best possible kind  
of medicine for overtaxed nerves4 ,it   
makes worn-out women over into healthy1 
happy women4 ,i thank ,god1 every day1  
for my garden1 one of these women wrote 
me1 not long ago4 ,it has given me back 
my health4 ,it has made me feel that    
life is worth living1 after all4 ,i     
believe that ,i shall get so that ,i    
live in my garden most of the time4 ,by 
that ,i mean that ,i shall be thinking  
about it and enjoying it1 either in     
recollection or anticipation1 when it is
 impossible for me to be actually in it4
 ,my mind will be there in winter1 and  
,i will be there in summer4 ,why--do you
 know1 ,i did a good deal more housework
 last year than ever before1 and ,i did 
it in order to find time to work among  
my flowers4 ,work in the garden made    
housework easier4 ,thank ,god for       
flowers1 ,i say6  ,yes--,god be thanked 
for flowers6         99       99        
99       99       99                    
----------------------------------------

---------------------      ,gardening   
,books                                  
,by ,eben ,e4 ,rexford                  
,the ,home ,garden                      
,a practical book for the use of those  
who own                   a small garden
 in which they would like to grow       
vegetables and small fruits4            
,eight full-page illustrations4 #abmo4  
#aih pages1                cloth1       
ornamental1 #a4be net4                  
,four ,seasons in the ,garden           
,this book treats of all phases of the  
subject1                  from the      
simple bed or two along the fence in a  
city back yard1 to the most pretentious 
garden of               the suburban or 
country dweller4                        
,twenty-six illustrations in tint1      
colored frontispiece1        decorated  
title page and lining papers4           
,crown #hvo4 ,cloth1 #a4ej net4         
,indoor ,gardening                      
,the information that is given in this  
book                      was gained by 

the writer through personal work        
among flowers1 and the methods described
 have                   all been        
successfully tried by him4              
,colored frontispiece and #cb           
illustrations4 ,decorated               
title page and lining papers4 ,crown    
#hvo4                        ,ornamental
 cloth1 #a4ej net4                      
,amateur ,gardencraft                   
,a book for the home-maker and garden   
lover4                                  
,colored frontispiece1 #cc illustrations
 in tint1 decorated      title page and 
lining papers4 ,crown                   
#hvo4 ,ornamental cloth1 #a4ej net4     
,j4 ,b4 ,lippincott ,company            
,publishers ,philadelphia               
----------------------------------------
---------------------