,illustration3 8,,my ,,flowers40 8,a flowery crown will ,i compose1 ,i'll weave the ,crocus1 weave the ,rose2 ,i'll weave ,narcissus1 newly wet1 ,the ,hyacinth and ,violet2 ,the ,myrtle shall supply me green1 ,and ,lilies laugh in light between1 ,that the rich tendrils of my darling's hair ,may burst into their crowning flowers1 and light the painted air40 ,,every ,,woman ,,her ,,own ,flower ,gardener4 ,a ,,handy ,,manual ,,of ,,flower ,,gardening ,,for ,,ladies4 ,,by ,,mrs4 ,s4 ,o4 ,,johnson4 78,,daisy ,,eyebright407 ,,fourth ,,edition4 ,illustration ,,new ,,york3 ,,henry ,t4 ,,williams1- - - ,,publisher4 ,office of the ,horticulturist4 #ahgd4 ,entered according to ,act of ,congress1 in the year eighteen hundred and seventy-one1 by ,,henry ,t4 ,,williams1 in the office of the ,librarian of ,congress1 at ,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,,van ,,benthuysen ,,printing ,,house1 ,stereotypers and ,printers1 ,albany1 ,n4 ,y4 ,,contents4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,page4 ,the ,flower ,garden--,its ,uses1 etc4 #e ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,construction of ,beds--,beds in ,lawn--,ribbon ,gardening--,rockeries --,directions for ,massing ,flowers--,diagrams for laying out ,gardens #ab ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,annuals--,their ,culture and ,varieties--,a ,list of the ,most ,desirable for ,amateur ,gardeners #ah ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,perennials--,biennials--,their ,treatment1 etc4--,lists of ,most ,desirable ,varieties #bg ,,chapter ,v4 ,geraniums--,pelargoniums--,the ,difference between the two ,plants--,their ,culture and ,varieties--,double ,geraniums--,the ,zonale ,geraniums --,the ,liliputian ,tribe--,lists of ,desirables and ,novelties #cb ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,bedding out ,plants--,pansies--,verbenas--,heliotrop es--,feverfews1 etc4 #ch ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,the ,fuchsia #dg ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,the ,cultivation of the ,rose #eb ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,ornamental ,vines #fb ,,chapter ,x4 ,ornamental ,shrubs for ,garden and ,lawn #fi ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,the ,carnation and ,picotee ,pinks #gc ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,herbaceous ,plants--,ponies--,phloxes--,chrysanthem ums--,delphiniums --and a ,select ,list of ,desirable ,herbaceous ,flowers #gg ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,immortelles1 or ,everlasting ,flowers and ,ornamental ,grasses-- ,acroliniums--,globe ,amaranths--,helicrysums--,helipterium ,sanfordii --,rodanthes--,xeranthemums--and a ,select ,list of ,grasses1 ,annual and ,perennial #hc ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,ornamental ,foliaged ,plants--,coleus--,achyranthus--,caladiu ms--,silver ,leaved ,plants--,cannas1 etc4--,tri-colored ,geraniums1 ,gold and ,silver ,edged #hi ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,summer ,flowering ,bulbs--,japan ,lilies--,gladiolus--,dahlias--,vallota1 etc4 #if ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,spring ,flowering ,bulbs--,snowdrops--,crocuses--,hyacinth s--,tulips-- ,daffodils--,jonquils--,narcissus--,poly anthus ,narcissus--,lilies of the ,valley1 etc4 #ajg ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,old ,fashioned ,flowers #aai ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,vegetables and ,hotbeds #abb ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,arrangement of ,bouquets1 ,vases1 etc4--,flowers in ,churches #acb ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,general ,management of the ,garden--,the ,soil--,selection of ,seeds-- ,weeding--,watering--,planting out--,pruning1 etc4--,saving of ,seeds-- ,preparing ,pots--,taking up and ,preserving ,flowers in ,winter--,sleep of ,flowers--,insects--,cultivate the ,beautiful everywhere--,lines of ,mrs4 ,howitts--,let us ,teach our ,children to ,love ,flowers rather than ,fashion #aci ,,chapter ,i4 ,,the ,,flower-,,garden--,,its ,,romance ,,and ,,reality4 8,there's not a flower can grow upon the earth ,without a flower upon the spiritual side2 ,all that we see is pattern of what shall be in the mount1 ,related royally1 and built up to eterne significance4 ,there's nothing small2 ,no lily1 muffled hum of summer bee1 ,but finds its coupling in the spinning stars2 ,no pebble at your feet but proves a sphere2 ,no chaffinch but implies a cherubim2 ,earth is full of heaven1 ,and every common bush a-fire with ,god40 ,a beautiful garden1 tastefully laid out1 and well kept1 is a certain evidence of taste1 refinement and culture4 ,it makes a lowly cottage attractive1 and lends a charm to the stateliest palace4 ,an ,english writer1 lately visiting our country1 writes3 8,i can conceive of nothing more dreary than to live in the country and have no garden4 ,to have no garden is to take the poetry1 and nearly all the charms away from country life4 ,to have a garden1 is to have many friends continually near4 8,what a difference between what ,mr4 ,carlyle calls an #8umbrageous man's rest1 in which a king might wish to sit and smoke1 and call it his1' with its roses1 and honeysuckles1 and fuchsias clambering in through the very windows in crowds1 and the dreary1 arid prospect around thousands of ,american houses60 ,this hardly seems a fair criticism upon our homes4 ,having been an enthusiastic lover of flowers from childhood1 and having cultivated them ever since the use of the hands was learned1 ,i cannot recognize its truth2--have never known of many such houses1 as he describes4 ,yet many ,american writers will declare that slender porticos1 fanciful verandas1 sculptured gables1 and deep bay windows are often seen in this country1 without a vestige of a flower or climbing vine about them2 while in ,england1 the poorest laborer's cot is a bower of greenery2 and his little plat of flowers1 often vies with that of his employer4 ,it is not always wealth or art that gives to ,english homes their beauty and picturesqueness1 but it is the attention of their inmates1 to the cultivation of the 8,green things of the earth40 ,it is not the latticed casement nor the high gable that attracts the notice of the traveler1 but the brilliant flowers and the trailing vines that drape and embower them4 ,american women live in-doors too much1 and thus sacrifice their health and spirits4 ,they cultivate neuralgia1 dyspepsia1 and all their attendant ills--rather than the beautiful and glorious flowers which ,god has scattered so abundantly all over the world4 ,this little pamphlet is written for the purpose of coaxing them to come out into the sunshine1 and begging them to 8,list to ,nature's teachings40 ,a little garden1 all one's own1 is a real ,eden6 ,earth possesses no greater charm2 and there is no cosmetic equal to the fresh1 sweet morning air1 and the cheerful sunshine4 ,you can make no investment which will give you such interest2 health1 happiness1 and pure enjoyment will be the coin in which it is paid2 and the returns are not made semi-annually1 but daily4 ,with what intense delight one watches the first tiny leaves of the seeds one has planted2 and what pleasure one takes in the unfolding of the first flower6 ,a grand garden cared for by a gardener1 can never give its possessor as much delight as one in which nearly all the work is done by one's own hands4 ,to be sure1 ,pat ,o',shovelem's aid is needful to prepare the ground1 lay out the beds1 and harden the walks2 but1 gentler1 smaller hands can plant the seeds and roots1 can keep down the weeds1 tie up1 stake1 train1 water and prune4 ,i have little faith in ,american women becoming farmers1--holding the plow--wielding the spade or the shovel2 but ,i do know from long experience1 that all the rest of the work can be accomplished by women1 if they possess a love for the beautiful4 ,there lies the trouble2 few of our children are taught to garden2 if they possess a natural taste for the pursuit1 sometimes it is gratified1 but not always4 ,mrs4 ,japonica and ,miss ,mc,flimsey hold up their hands in holy horror at the very idea of any of their kindred soiling their hands with the work4 8,flora work among her namesakes60 they exclaim2 8forbid it all ,japonicadom60 ,yet how much harder do they work at the crowded party or ball6 ,to dance the 8,german10 requires quite as much physical strength as to plant a flower-garden1 and rake off the weeds2--but that is the fashion1 and beef tea and stimulants must be resorted to1 to sustain the feeble knees1 uplift the nerveless fingers4 ,women can find strength to cultivate a garden successfully1 if they will commence by degrees4 ,if their muscles and sinews are not accustomed to the work1 they will soon rebel against it when forced to attend to it for several hours at once4 ,garden by degrees1 my friends1 and cultivate your muscles1 with your plants6 ,an hour1 or even half an hour1 is long enough for a commencement1 and the next day extend the time ten minutes1 and so on1 until you can work for three1 or even six hours in succession4 ,but take it easy2 provide an old piece of carpeting to kneel upon while planting1 or weeding with a fork2 and if your knees are not accustomed to that position1 humor them by placing an empty raisin or soap box upon the carpet1 and sit upon that2--and if a cushion would also be agreeable1 cover a small pillow with some dark chintz1 and place that on the box4 ,now you will have a luxurious seat1 and can garden without a sense of pain2 yet don't stay too long1 nor become too much heated4 ,the carpeting protects the skirts from the dampness of the soil1 and should always be used4 ,it can be kept conveniently at hand1 with the box and the cushion4 ,of course1 flounces1 puffs1 and furbelows1 with their accompanying upper skirts1 are not suitable for such occupations4 ,a dark chintz dress is the best1 for it can go into the wash-tub when it is in need of cleansing4 ,a woolen bathing dress makes an excellent garden costume--for skirts are always in the way4 ,if it is admissible on the beach1 where wealth and fashion do congregate1 why not in the garden1 surrounding one's house8 ,a large shade hat1 and a pair of old kid gloves are indispensable4 ,rubber gloves are often recommended1 but are far too clumsy for the fingers4 ,now1 the dress is bespoken1 and we must purchase the tools required4 ,a large three-pronged iron fork1 with a short handle1 is needful for loosening the ground1 removing plants and uprooting weeds4 ,i should rather do without a trowel than such a fork4 ,they can be purchased of all hardware dealers4 ,a small set of tools1 comprising a rake and hoe on one handle1 a trowel1 and a spade1 are very essential4 ,with their aid much light work can be accomplished without calling upon ,mr4 ,o',shovelem4 ,a watering pot1 with a large nozzle1 and a fine sprinkler1 is also required4 ,with these implements1 every woman can be her own gardener--and not only raise all the flowers she may desire1 but also contribute a large share of the vegetables that are always welcomed at the table1 during both summer and winter4 ,the cultivation of the soil possesses a wonderful fascination2 its very odor1 after a refreshing shower1 is inspiring2 and as you gather your flowers1 you will also gather improvement in many ways4 8,he made them all1 and what ,he designs1 can ne'er be deemed unworthy of our study1 and our love40 ,if we see a pot of flowers in a window1 it gives us respect for the inmates of the dwelling--but if we see a beauteous garden1 8,a brilliant carpet of unnumbered dyes10 we know that there is taste and refinement within that home4 ,on the ,european continent1 women work in the fields with the men1 and become beasts of burden4 ,i hope never to see them thus1 in this more favored land1 but ,i do desire to have them take a daily interval from the labor and care of the house1 and breathe into their hearts the oxygen and iron contained in the fresh air2 taste the balm and the tonic of the sunlight and the garden4 ,every day there is some work to be done1 if the garden is well kept4 ,there is no need of having a 8weeding-day10 like a 8washing-day10--for the weeds can be kept down1 daily4 ,every morning dig over one or two beds1 according to their size1--and continue the work until all are cleaned up4 ,then commence again1 and thus prevent the soil from becoming baked2 and let the air and moisture enter the earth1 and nourish the tender roots4 ,that is my way of gardening4 ,after the beds are made1 the walks prepared1 no man's hand or foot enters the sacred precinct1 excepting to admire1 and to receive the flowers4 ,in the early spring time a half hour may suffice to exhaust the little strength one possesses1 but before ,october comes1 with its autumnal glories1 several hours can be passed in out-door work without much sense of fatigue4 ,all the delights of a garden are not comprised in gathering nosegays1 and arranging bouquets1 vases or festal garlands2--there is great enjoyment in watching the vegetating of the seeds2 the developing of the tiny leaves1 the forming of the minute buds--and then comes at last-- 8,the bright1 consummate flower60 ,floriculture has been called the gem of all cultures4 ,its influence makes us more courteous1 if not more intelligent2 and what can we find in nature so emblematical of bloom1 decay1 and death8 ,it has been said that 8as domestic floriculture and gardening has been the inclination of beings1 and the choice of philosophers1 so it has been the favorite of public and private men1 a pleasure of the greatest1 and the care of the meanest3 and indeed an employment and a possession1 for which no man is too high nor too low4 ,flowers are the relics of ,eden's bowers40 ,and there is no pastime that can give as much pleasure1 with so small an expenditure4 ,gray1 the poet1 and also a skillful naturalist1 tells us that the enjoyment of life depends upon 8having always something going forward20 and exclaims3 8,happy are they who can create a rose-tree1 or erect a honeysuckle60 ,it is indeed this very 8having always something going forward0 that produces the enjoyment experienced by the amateur gardener2 the glory and fragrance of the flowers forming the crowning gratification4 ,there is a pride--a most pleasing pride--in culling a bouquet for a friend1 from flowers raised by one's own hand4 ,the creation of a beautiful object is certainly 8a great fact10 of which any of us may be justly and honestly proud4 ,few of us possess the talent to transfer and perpetuate on canvas1 or in marble1 the glorious hues and forms of nature1 but the lowest and humblest can raise flowers which ,solomon1 in all his glory1 could not have eclipsed6 ,why does not everybody have a ,geranium1 a ,rose1 a ,fuchsia1 or some other flower in a window1 if they do not own land enough to plant a garden8 ,they are very cheap--next to nothing1 if raised from a cutting1 and of small price if purchased from the florist2 and there is companionship in them1 as well as grace and beauty4 ,charming ,leigh ,hunt1 whom ,i love to quote1 says3 8,flowers sweeten the air1 rejoice the eye1 link you with nature and innocence1 and are something to love4 ,if they cannot love you in return1 they cannot hate you2 cannot utter hateful words even if neglected2 for1 though they are all beauty1 they possess no vanity2 and living1 as they do1 to do you good1 and afford you pleasure1 how can you neglect them60 ,there are few dwellers in the country who are so destitute as not to be able to indulge in a love for flowers4 ,the garden may be of the smallest size--a mere tiny circle--and it will often be loved the more for its smallness1 and receive more care and attention4 ,it will not do to care for it a week1 and then neglect it for two weeks4 ,it demands constant care1 daily attendance1 waterings1 and weedings4 ,nothing destroys its beauty like the noxious weeds that will grow up1 like ,jonah's gourd1 if not constantly uprooted4 ,the tenacity of their life is wonderful2 uprooting will not always kill them1 and they will mature their seeds1 and prepare for another struggle with you in an ensuing summer1 even when their roots lie withering in the sun4 8,what hidden virtue is in these things1 that it is granted to sow themselves with the wind1 and to grapple the earth with this unmitigable stubbornness1 and to flourish in spite of obstacles1 and never to suffer blight beneath any sun or shade1 but always to mock their enemies1 with the same wicked luxuriance80 ,thus enquires ,hawthorne1 while sturdily waging a warfare against them1 in the garden of the 8,old ,manse10 at ,concord1 ,mass41 and no one can 8make reply40 ,animal manures1 though very stimulating to vegetable life1 are the sources whence many of the grassy weeds spring4 ,artificial manures do not introduce so many of these pests into the beds and borders1 yet some of them are so highly charged with noxious exhalations that one dislikes to apply them4 ,mineral fertilizers are not open to these objections1 and ,i have found them preferable to others on that account4 ,guano is always beneficial1 if not applied in too large quantities4 ,an iron spoonful of it dug into the ground two or three inches from the stems of the plants will increase their growth and beauty4 ,a less quantity should be given to tender annuals1 and small plants4 ,liquid animal manures are also easily applied1 and give to the plant an immediate stimulant4 ,in pouring it on1 avoid touching the leaves or the stems of the plants1 but give the earth a copious supply of a weak solution4 ,guano applied in this manner is very beneficial4 ,i have used all of these with decided success2 and always feed my garden bountifully2 and receive in return a bountiful supply of flowers and vegetables4 ,plant with care and skill2 water when needful2 feed plenty of nourishment2 keep clear from all weeds2 tie1 stake1 prune and cultivate daily1 and you will never regret the small investment required to commence and continue a garden2 but will become more and more enamored with the occupation2 and will yearly increase your stock1 and multiply your labors1 and will be ready to say with ,thomson1 the poet of nature3 8,i care not1 ,fortune1 what you me deny1 ,you cannot rob me of free ,nature's grace2 ,you cannot shut the windows of the sky1 ,through which ,aurora shows her brightening face2 ,you cannot bar my constant feet to trace ,the woods and lawns by living streams at eve3 ,let health my nerves and finer fibres brace1 ,and ,i their toys to the great children leave2 ,of fancy1 reason1 virtue1 nought can me bereave40 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,construction ,,of ,,beds1 ,,beds ,,in ,,lawn1 ,,ribbon ,,gardening1 ,,rockeries4 8,oh6 who can speak his joys1 when ,spring's young morn1 ,from wood and pasture open'd on his view2 ,when tender green buds blush upon the thorn1 ,and the first primrose dips its leaves in dew40 ,in preparing gardens to receive our flowers1 it is better to avoid raised beds1 with deep walks4 ,they suffer from the intense heat of our summers2 and the rains wash them down1 often exposing the roots of the plants4 ,grass edgings are objectionable1 on account of the labor required to keep the sods from spreading4 ,beds that are artistically cut in the grass-plat produce a better effect2 and the brilliant hues of the flowers contrast perfectly with the soft1 shaven1 emerald tint of the grass4 ,one of the most attractive features about a house1 is a garden tastefully cut in the lawn4 ,it is open to but one objection--the dew upon the grass makes it rather unapproachable in the early morning1 when its owner desires to feast her eyes upon its beauties4 ,three designs are given for cutting beds in the grassy lawn1 and an artistic eye will enable our gardeners to vary them as they please4 ,the walks can be well trodden down1 and hardened with sifted coal ashes or clay4 ,gravel is not so desirable1 as it clings to the feet4 ,the grass can be left between the beds1 or cut out1 but if the latter is done1 they can receive more care in the early hours of the day4 ,illustration3 ,,diagram ,,no4 #a4 ,in the center1 ,a1 place a stocky plant of ,scarlet ,salvia2 at ,b1 ,scarlet ,geraniums2 ,d1 ,white ,perfection ,geranium2 ,c1 ,heliotropes2 ,e1 ,carnations2 ,g1 ,asters2 ,f1 ,zinnias2 ,h and ,i1 ,stocks4 ,illustration3 ,,diagram ,,no4 #b4 ,a1 ,ricinus1 ,sanvitalia procumbens round it2 ,b1 ,scarlet ,verbenas2 ,c1 ,white ,verbenas2 ,d1 ,purple2 ,e1 ,striped1 ,pink and ,white2 ,f1 ,richest ,crimson2 ,g1 ,pure ,white2 ,h1 ,brightest ,pink2 ,i1 ,darkest ,maroon4 ,the outer beds can be each of one kind of plant1 ,heliotropes1 ,carnations1 ,geraniums1 ,pelargoniums1 ,asters1 ,balsams1 ,zinnias1 and ,stocks1 or any flowers that suit the owner's taste4 ,illustration3 ,,diagram ,,no #c4 ,in the center mound1 plant a fine specimen of ,arundo donax1 or one of the ,pampas ,grass4 ,in each of the pear-shaped beds1 put a different colored geranium1 the tallest species at the stem end1 and the ,tom ,thumb varieties at the broadest edge4 ,in the circles plant some white flowers that will retain their beauty4 ,in the crescents1 brilliant scarlet flowers2 and in the bordering of the half moon1 either try ribbon gardening1 or fill up with a mosaic in squares of scarlet1 white1 purple1 orange1 blue1 bright pink1 crimson1 and all the numberless shades that flowers afford4 ,these beds furnish a great scope for exercising one's taste in arranging colors2 and very brilliant effects may be produced without a great outlay of time or money4 ,the crescent-shaped garden can be approached from the main walk1 and if the walks are hardened with ashes1 it can be easily tended4 ,all flower beds should be dug a foot deep2 well enriched with animal or mineral manures2 the lumps all finely pulverized1 and the surface of the beds raked as smoothly as possible4 ,portulacca1 ,nemophila1 ,thrift1 ,gypsophila and ,dwarf ,asters make very pretty edgings4 ,ribbon ,gardening4 ,flowers may be planted in ribbon fashion1 that is1 by employing those of primary colors1 and arranging them with the tallest for the background1 or in the center4 ,if sowed in a circular bed1 be sure to have a brilliant scarlet or white flower in the center1 which should be taller than all the rest4 ,a ,scarlet ,geranium 7,gen4 ,grant71 for the center1 ,white ,feverfew surrounding that2 ,blue ,larkspur should come next2 ,yellow ,calceolarias next2 and then the ,dwarf ,asters1 of a rich crimson color1 bordering on purple1 would contrast well4 ,for borderings to the plans given in this chapter1 the ,hyacinth-flowered ,stocks would ribbon beautifully4 ,plant a row of the ,scarlet1 then ,white1 next ,lilac1 then ,canary ,colored1 then ,bright ,pink4 ,they will grow to the same height1 and produce a fine effect4 ,verbenas are also excellent for this purpose1 and can be planted in concentric circles or in parallelograms1 with six or seven colors1 arranging them as a rainbow4 ,a narrow semi-circle thus planted could be called the rainbow garden4 ,phlox ,drummondii1 ,candytuft1 ,lobelias and ,zonale ,geraniums can all be employed in ribbon gardening4 ,take care to arrange the colors with vivid contrasts--orange and purple1 white and scarlet1 but do not let blue and purple mingle4 ,the arrangement of the ribboning must depend1 of course1 upon the stock of plants you possess1 and after one year's trial you will1 doubtless1 succeed in producing a fine effect4 ,the only requisite rules are1 to arrange the plants according to their height and coloring1 always planting the outer edges with some dwarf plant that contrasts strongly4 ,the ,alternantheras1 ornamental foliaged plants that grow but four or five inches high1 are unsurpassed for edgings4 ,they will receive due attention in the chapter devoted to ,variegated ,leaved ,plants4 ,for planting in masses of coloring1 ,truffanto ,asters1 ,smith's ,prize ,balsam1 ,dianthus florepleno1 ,linum coccineum1 ,schizanthus atropurpureus1 ,calceolaria and ,centranthus macrosiphon make a fine show4 ,plant a small bed of each4 ,a bed of miniature flowers is always charming4 ,lobelia marmorata1 ,leptosiphon hybridus1 ,clintonia azurea grandiflora1 ,fenzleria dianthiflora and ,grammanthes gentianoides are all dwarfs1 and planted together with a bordering of ,gypsophylla muralis1 the effect is lovely6 ,a bed of ,mignonette is indispensable1 and it will flourish in the shade1 and in damp places1 blooming luxuriantly4 ,rockeries4 ,there are many plants which thrive much better in a sheltered1 rocky situation1 and thence has sprung up the fashion for constructing 8,rockeries40 ,or it happens that some large rocks crop out on a portion of ground which is within view of the house1 and it is desirable to ornament them4 ,in the latter case1 you have only to plant strong growing vines with large foliage1 such as the ,wild ,grape ,vine2 the ,clematis1 or ,virgin's ,bower1 that trails its white1 starry blossoms1 and its puffy1 wooly seed pods all over the forests of this country4 ,these two vines will render the offending rocks most picturesque4 ,southern ladies can entwine among them the lovely ,yellow ,jessamine of their woods1 which throws a golden hue over all their forests4 ,the ,ampelopsis 7or ,virginia ,creeper71 or ,five ,fingered ,ivy1 and the ,aristolochia 7or ,dutchman's ,pipe71 are also desirable for this purpose2 also the ,periplo cagrca1 or ,silk ,vine of the ,southern ,states4 ,one1 or all of these vines1 will soon render the obnoxious rocks a joy forever6 ,artificial ,rockeries are usually constructed of stones of various sizes1 with the soil firmly embedded betwixt them4 ,they can be made very easily from the clinkers of the coal furnace4 ,if large pieces can be obtained1 whitewash some of them to increase their picturesqueness4 ,boulders1 stones from brooks1 or hill sides1 can all be used advantageously4 ,commence with the largest-sized stones1 and build it up in an irregular1 jagged shape to imitate nature4 ,a ,rockery can be made as a receptacle of ,mineralogical ,specimens1 which would increase its value4 ,if you send to the woods and brooks for the stones1 bring the soil thence1 and1 if not rich enough1 add a little compost1 but native ,ferns and ,vines do not require a large supply of stimulants4 ,plant the ,ferns and ,mosses on the shadiest side1 and trail over the stones small vines1 like the ,lysimachia numerlaria1 ,vinca1 minor and major1 ,moneywort1 ,lobelias1 varieties of the ,sedums1 and the various ,annuals mentioned under that head1 as desirable for rock work4 ,the varieties of the ,saxifragora1 with their broad leaves1 and large clusters of bright pink or red flowers1 are very effective among the trailing vines and ferns4 ,a small ,evergreen tree will show to advantage from some rocky point4 ,the ,alpine ,plants are also lovely for such constructions4 ,crocus bulbs can be planted among the smaller stones1 and in the early ,spring will make a fine show4 ,after they have bloomed1 their places can be filled with ,dwarf ,asters and ,dwarf ,stocks1 ,phlox ,drummondii and ,pinks4 ,rockeries can be rendered very ornamental additions to the lawn or shrubbery1 but they require a tasteful eye to construct them1 and a loving hand to tend them2 without these they can never be eye-sweet4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,annuals--,,their ,,culture ,,and ,,treatment4 8,come1 ye soft sylphs1 ,teach the fine seed1 instinct with life1 to shoot ,in earth's cold bosom1 its descending root2 ,with pith elastic1 stretch its rising stem1 ,part the twin lobes1 expand the throbbing gem2 ,clasp in your airy arms the aspiring plume1 ,fan with your balmy breath its kindling bloom2 ,each widening scale1 and bursting film unfold1 ,swell the green cup1 and tint the flower with gold40 ,annuals are considered the chief ornaments of the flower garden throughout the summer and autumn1 and many of them are desirable for house culture4 ,they have great claims upon our attention1 and should be more extensively cultivated in every garden4 ,it is impossible to plant1 in a private plat of ground1 all the kinds and varieties that are offered to us in the ,seedsmen's ,catalogues1 but a judicious selection of the best kinds will give a charming assortment of brilliant flowers4 ,it is almost superfluous to mention that annuals are plants which spring from seed1 and perfect their growth and seed1 and perish with the autumn2 though their life may be prolonged by cutting off the flowers1 not allowing the seed-pods to form1 and keeping them housed in the winter4 ,they are divided into hardy2 half-hardy and tender2 and are natives of various lands4 ,many of them have been greatly improved1 by the care and patience of the florist1 from their normal state1 and transformed into flowers of the most gorgeous hues1 and the most perfect shape4 ,asters1 ,balsams1 ,larkspurs1 ,petunias1 ,portulaccas1 ,stocks and ,zinnias have all become exceedingly double and of every brilliant hue2 while many others have had their flowers much increased in size1 and otherwise improved4 ,these flowers are more generally cultivated than any other class of flowers1 and they1 alike1 adorn the yard of the cottage1 and the parterre of the palace4 ,they will grow almost anywhere1 and in any kind of soil1 but thrive much better if heed is paid to their wants1 and they are provided with a sunny location1 well drained1 and are well supplied with rich sandy loam2 though there are some kinds which prefer a clayey soil4 ,there are only a few which require a very rich soil1 yet1 most of them will reward you with a brighter show of flowers if well fed4 ,it does not pay to starve plants1 any more than to starve animals4 ,it is very desirable to locate your garden where it can be in constant view from the windows of the house2 flowers are our bosom friends and we desire to have them always in sight2 when weary they refresh one1 when happy they add to one's happiness1 and when sad and gloomy they give to one pleasant thoughts1 smooth the care-worn brow1 and uplift the heart to the ,giver of all good things4 ,to prepare the soil1 let ,mr4 ,o',shovelem dig up the grass-plat1 if needful1 and prepare the beds in front of the piazza1 porch or sitting room1 if it has a southeast direction2 if not1 take the next best1 a southwestern location4 ,few plants will thrive well in a northern exposure1 though ,pansies love the shade1 and will flourish there4 ,if you can procure a compost of sand 7not sea sand71 leaf mould1 loam and manure--a quarter of each--you will have as good soil as you can desire2 but if not within reach1 take what offers1 and if it is heavy and stiff1 add sand to lighten it2 if friable and light1 add ashes1 muck or soil from old pastures1 taken from under the sods4 ,this is always desirable4 ,sand is also an essential4 ,laying out the ,beds4 ,have the garden well spaded over1 and then lay out the beds4 ,if you have a geometrical eye1 you can mark out circles1 semi-circles1 triangles1 stars1 diamonds and all sorts of curved beds2 and if you can have all the assistance you desire from 8men-folks10 border their edges with narrow strips of turf1 which must be kept closely shaven1 and not allowed to encroach upon the beds4 ,if you depend upon your own exertions1 avoid the turf2 for it exacts too much hard muscular work for women to encounter4 ,a bordering is now manufactured of ,terra ,cotta1 which is highly praised2 and it is said to withstand the frost and snow of the coldest regions4 ,the ,drain ,pipe and ,terra ,cotta works in ,new ,york1 make several styles4 ,tiles are also introduced with good effect4 ,box edgings are always tasteful and pretty4 ,if you can possess none of these1 you can1 at least1 border the beds with ,dwarf ,annuals and ,perennials4 ,the ,tom ,thumb plants of every kind are very pretty for this purpose2 the stone-crop and1 indeed1 all the varieties of ,sedums1 make effective edgings4 ,gypsophila muralis is also beautiful for an edging1 and its spray-like flowers are indispensable for both vase and bouquet4 ,they cover the flowers like a mist1 increasing their charms by partly veiling them4 ,sowing the ,seed1 etc4 ,the hardy varieties1 like ,candytuft1 ,phlox ,drummondii1 ,sweet ,alyssum1 ,sweet ,peas1 etc41 can be sown as soon as the ground becomes a little warm1 and the weather is in a degree settled4 ,indeed1 all these kinds1 and many others1 will bloom earlier in the summer if they are planted in the autumn4 ,the frost and snow does not disturb their rest4 ,sweet ,peas are very essential for all gardens4 ,their fragrance is grateful to all2 and a bunch of the new colored ones1 mingled with the old favorites1 equals the soft and liquid tints of the sunset cloud4 ,but don't put ,scarlet ,geraniums or ,verbenas among them2 their vivid hues will pale and dim the beauteous ,peas4 ,they bloom much more profusely1 if planted four or five inches in depth1 and are not so apt to mildew4 ,the half-hardy annuals should not be sown1 excepting in the ,south1 before the middle of ,may2 and the tender ones1 not until ,june1 if one desires good success in their vegetation and growth4 ,a large amount of vexation might be avoided if amateur florists would pay a little heed to natural laws4 ,for both half-hardy and tender ,annuals1 planting in-doors1 or under glass1 is very needful4 ,if this is done1 they can be brought forward so as to bloom by the last of ,june1 or the first of ,july1 and one is fully repaid for the extra trouble by their graceful1 lovely flowers4 ,all these varieties of ,annuals require transplanting4 ,no ,aster1 ,petunia1 ,stock or ,zinnia will show its beauty if not allowed plenty of room in which to grow and bloom4 ,so1 it is as well to transplant them from boxes1 or hotbeds1 early in the summer1 when all fear of frost is past1 as to do it later from the garden beds4 ,seeds of various sizes require different depths of covering4 ,the smaller the seed1 the less the soil it needs to plant it1 and the finer the soil should be4 ,portulaccas1 ,petunias1 and all tiny seeds1 should be mixed with sand1 and sprinkled or sifted on to the earth prepared for them1 and then gently pressed down with the flat of the trowel or the hoe4 ,the general rule for planting has been to the depth of three times the diameter of the seed4 ,too deep planting is a fruitful source of the usual loss of seeds1 so much complained of by amateur gardeners4 ,the several essentials to successful germination of seeds of all kinds are suitable soil1 suitable moisture and warmth2 if these are in excess1 or not sufficient1 some1 if not all1 of the seeds will fail4 ,in planting seeds in the open border1 the soil must be thoroughly pulverized1 no little lumps left in it to destroy plant life4 ,rake in the seeds1 scattering them thinly around2 or1 a better way is to tie a string to two small sticks2 plant one of them firmly in the earth1 and with the other draw a circle of the dimensions you may desire2 wind up the string until you have it of the right length1 then plant the seeds in the circle1 and label them4 ,don't trust to your memory for the names1 and then say 8this pink flower1 that red one1 and the other blue or yellow one10 but learn their names1 and call them by them4 ,one often rebels at the many-syllabled word that is applied to a tiny mite of a flower2 yet1 that same ,latin word tells to every botanist its class and order1 while the common1 familiar1 local name is recognized only by one language4 ,miss ,mitford says3 8,one is never thoroughly sociable with flowers until they are naturalized1 as it were1 christened1 provided with decent1 homely1 well-wearing ,english names40 ,the practice of giving ,latin names to flowers and plants has been styled pedantic4 ,it is not so2 for it conveys an idea of the flower to every student of ,botany and ,gardening in every nation4 ,leigh ,hunt thus writes upon the names of flowers3 8,pink is not by itself a pretty name1 but we have associated it since our first dawnings of infancy1 with the sweetness of the flower1 so now the name and flower are one1 and the poor monosyllable becomes rich in sweetness and appropriateness40 ,and again3 8,browallia is a pretty name1 and was given to a ,peruvian flower by ,linnus in honor of a friend of his by the name of ,browall2 yet the name gives no idea of the flower which is remarkably attractive20 and1 he suggests that ,browall's ,beauty would have immortalized both the friend and the flower1 and have advertised its claims to the regard of the florist4 ,a short digression from seed planting1 fair friends1 which it is to be hoped you will pardon and overlook4 ,when your seeds are planted1 unless the day is cloudy and showery1 they will require shading from the heat of the sun4 ,i find old newspapers are the best protection2 but1 if the patches are small1 flower pots can be inverted over them4 ,the newspapers must be laid over the seeds1 after they have been well watered1 and fastened at the corners by small stones or a handful of the earth4 ,at night they should be removed to let the dew moisten the ground1 and put back before it is dried up in the morning4 ,continue this until the tiny leaflets appear2 then remove them entirely4 ,if the ground is dry the seeds must be thoroughly wet every night4 ,moisture is very needful to germinate seeds2 without its aid they cannot sprout4 ,the would-be florists often plant their seeds as the ,catalogues direct and then give no farther heed to them4 ,you will often hear it said1 8,i can't make annuals grow4 ,i planted fifty to sixty varieties1 and not half a dozen of them ever sprouted4 ,i have no faith in the seedsmen2 they send out old seeds and keep all the new for their own gardens40 8,did you water them well1 and shade them from the noontide heat80 is asked4 8,why1 no6 ,i never thought of that4 ,i planted them1 and supposed that was enough40 ,my fair friends1 unless the clouds favor you and drop rain1 or hide the sun for three or four days1 your seeds will become baked and shriveled1 and you cannot expect them to grow4 ,the thin-skinned seeds will germinate most quickly1 while those that are shrouded in horny textures1 vegetate more slowly4 ,it is always well to soak all such seeds4 ,verbena seeds require twenty-four hours soaking in warm water1 and the seeds of the lovely1 graceful ,cypress vine will not germinate unless boiling water is poured upon them4 ,transplanting ,seedlings4 ,when the tiny plants have put forth the fourth or fifth leaf1 it is time to provide them with permanent homes4 ,if this is done in the early morning of a warm day--or even later in the forenoon--you may be sure that you will lose your plants4 ,but select a showery1 cloudy day1 following a dry season1 or plant after night-fall1 and then water1 and shade from the sun of the next day1 and you will hardly lose one plant1 or even have a leaf curl4 ,annuals of most kinds must have plenty of space to grow in4 ,there are few that are not improved by transplanting4 ,salpiglossis will grow to better advantage thickly planted2 also1 ,erysimum ,peroffskianum1 whose brilliant orange flowers render it desirable to every garden4 ,mignonette1 ,larkspurs and ,poppies will not bear transplanting2 they grow from a tap root1 and do not easily attach themselves to a new home after their growth is once started4 ,if ,annuals are not planted anew after germinating1 their growth is weak and spindling1 and they soon cease flowering2 while1 on the other hand1 they will grow luxuriantly1 and blossom until the frost withers their fair bloom1 if their quarters are ample4 ,asters should be planted a foot asunder each way2 and ,stocks1 ,balsams1 ,zinnias and ,petunias require as much room1 if not more1 to bring them to a state of perfection2 and1 if mulched with fine manure early in ,july1 they will bloom magnificently4 ,what ,shall ,we ,plant8 ,this is the query of many women who examine the ,illustrated ,catalogues1 and are not familiar with the high-sounding names1 and1 therefore1 totally at loss to know what are desirable and needful out of the thousands of varieties1 illustrated and described therein4 ,i will give a list of those whose beauties are familiar to me1 and whose names are household words3 ,asters1 ,truffauts1 ,rose ,asters1 ,imbrique1 ,pompone1 ,chrysanthemum ,flowered1 ,bouquet1 in all their varied colorings and shapes4 ,no garden can afford to be without one or all of these varieties2 and they take chief rank in the tribe of ,annuals4 ,amaranthus melancholicus1 variegated leaves4 ,anagallis4 ,abrobra1 a lovely climber4 ,abronia1 very effective for rock-work4 ,ageratum1 lavender blue and white4 ,acroclinium1 white and pink4 ,balsams1 ,smith's ,prize and ,camellia flowered4 ,bartonia aurea1 golden yellow4 ,browallia1 blue with white center1 white4 ,cacalia1 orange scarlet1 and yellow4 ,calandrinia1 crimson1 white1 pink and lilac4 ,coreopsis ,burridgii1 and coronata4 ,canary ,bird ,flower1 beautiful vine4 ,candytuft1 white1 purple and crimson4 ,celosia spicata rosea1 everlasting flower4 ,centranthus1 white1 flesh colored and pink4 ,cerastium1 ornamental foliage1 for edgings on rock-work4 ,chlora grandiflora1 bright orange changing to red4 ,chrysanthemum coronarium1 flore pleno4 ,clarkia integripetela1 magenta crimson1 rich4 ,clianthus ,dampierii4 ,clintonia azurea grandiflora1 desirable for rock-work and baskets4 ,coba scandens1 a climber of rapid growth4 ,collinsia1 various colors1 pretty for ribbon borders4 ,convolvulus aureus superbus1 a golden yellow variety4 ,convolvulus mauritanicus1 perfect for roses and baskets4 ,cyanus 7,ladies' ,delight74 ,cypress ,vine1 the most graceful of climbers4 ,eschscholtzia ,californica1 several colors4 ,euphorbia variegata4 ,fenzlia1 dwarf growth1 effective in rustic decorations4 ,gilia1 various colors4 ,godetia1 useful in ribbons4 ,gypsophylla muralis and elegans4 ,helliophila araboides1 bright blue1 useful for edgings4 ,inopsidium acaule1 sky blue1 loves the shade4 ,ipoma hederacea superba1 a beautiful vine4 ,kaulfussia atroviolacea4 ,larkspur 7,hyacinth flowered74 ,leptosiphon hybridus1 dwarf edgings4 ,linum1 in several colors4 ,lobelia1 blue1 white and rose color1 dwarf4 ,lupins1 of all colors4 ,machranthera tanaceifolia1 bright purple1 golden center4 ,marigolds1 new varieties are very attractive4 ,mignonette1 ,parson's new white and the crimson flowered4 ,nasturtiums1 of all varieties4 ,nemesia compacta elegans4 ,nemophila1 delicate flowers1 very dwarf1 love the shade4 ,nigella ,tonlanesiena4 ,oxyura1 golden yellow1 edged with white4 ,sweet ,peas of all colors4 ,perilla ,nankinensis1 dark rich foliaged plant4 ,phlox ,drummondii1 of every shade4 ,poppy1 carnation colored4 ,portulacca1 double and single4 ,ricinus1 ornamental foliaged4 ,salpiglossis1 very beautiful4 ,salvia splendens4 ,sanvitalia procumbens1 suitable for edgings and rock-work4 ,saponaria acymoides1 lovely for borderings4 ,scabiosa 7or ,mourning ,bride71 flore pleno4 ,schizanthus1 all colors4 ,statice hybrida4 ,stocks1 ,german ,dwarf1 pyramidal1 new hybrid4 ,tagetes pumila1 marigold of beautiful foliage and flower4 ,trifolium 7ornamental clover74 ,tropolum1 finest mixed varieties4 ,viscaria elegans picta4 ,vittadina 7,australian ,daisy71 a good edging4 ,whitlavia1 blue and white4 ,zea ,japonica 7,japanese ,maize71 ornamental foliage4 ,zinnia ,elegans1 flore pleno1 all colors4 ,zinnia ,mexicana pumila1 very double and brilliant4 ,among this list of ,annuals several climbers have been included2 for other species1 consult the chapter on ,vines and ,climbers4 ,training and ,watering ,annuals4 ,there are few plants that are not benefited by judicious training and pruning4 ,balsams are greatly improved by pinching off the side shoots1 and allowing only the stalks to grow2 or the main shoot may be left to itself1 and all the strength of the plant thrown into it1 producing an upright stem loaded with gorgeous chalices of bloom4 ,manure water will increase the size of the flowers1 and1 thus grown1 they make splendid pot plants4 ,the scissors are useful about many other plants2 and their side growth should be checked1 and less latitude allowed to their branches4 ,zinnias1 ,stocks and ,asters should have the laterals trimmed off2 their beauty is improved1 if they are kept within bounds4 ,in watering ,annuals1 and all flowers1 care should be taken to apply it after the sun has set2 if water is given in the morning1 when the sun is hastening forward to drink up every drop1 it is of but little use to the plant2 and1 if it is given at noon-tide1 when the sunbeams fall fiercely hot1 it scorches the plants as though ,jack ,frost had bitten them4 ,the cold drops1 falling on the heated surface of the soil1 produce the same effect as a chill4 ,water slightly warmed to the hand is far more efficacious than that drawn directly from aqueducts or cisterns4 ,if it sets in the sun all day1 it will be of the right temperature to apply at night4 ,english books on gardening1 often denounce the practice of frequent watering2 but they are no guides for ,american gardens4 ,their misty1 moisty island1 enveloped in clouds1 promotes moisture sufficient for their needs2 while our heated atmosphere drinks up every drop from the soil4 ,if it has rained during the day the watering pot can hang upon its peg2 but if not1 its attendance is highly essential for the growth of all tender ,annuals1 and delicate bedding-out plants4 ,many ladies complain of their ill luck in floriculture2 no plant thrives with them4 ,why is this8 ,because they neglect the floral darlings4 ,they are assiduous in their attention to them while planting or transplanting them2 but then their energy fails2 they think that the sun1 rain and dew will do the necessary work1 and they can rest from their labors4 ,they never fail to do their appointed work2 but you must cultivate in season and out of season if you would raise-- 8,bright gems of earth in which1 perchance1 we see ,what ,eden was--what ,paradise may be40 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,perennials ,,and ,,biennials4 8,well they reward the toil4 ,the sight is pleased1 the scent regaled2 ,each opening blossom freely breathes around ,its gratitude1 and thanks us with its sweets40 ,perennial plants are those which live and blossom through many successive seasons4 ,if planted very early in the border1 or brought forward in the hotbed or in window gardens1 they bloom the first season1 and many of them are hardy enough to withstand the coldest winters of northern ,new ,england1 while others require protection1 and the tender ones must be housed in the cellar to await the return of spring4 ,perennials die down every year1 but the faithful old roots live1 and when the sun awakes them from their wintry sleep1 they spring up anew1 and delight our senses4 ,these plants are very deserving of the attention of the amateur florist4 ,they ask but little at one's hands1 and will grow and bloom for many years under great neglect4 ,yet if their roots are not divided1 and their food renewed--after a few years they will dwindle away1 and finally perish4 ,many kinds are raised from seeds4 ,others by cuttings or increase of the roots2 and once in three or four years they require to be taken up1 divided1 and reset4 ,they flourish best in a light1 rich soil4 ,dicentra spectabilis1 an importation from ,china1 stands at the head of the list for its beauty1 grace and hardy qualities4 ,linnus knew of its loveliness1 and named it ,corydalis formosa4 ,mr4 ,fortune introduced it into ,england less than twenty years ago1 and it has been called ,dilytra1 ,diclytra1 and ,dicentra1 which are its proper names4 ,it seeds sparingly1 but a white variety has been introduced1 whether from seed or from ,china1 ,i know not4 ,it multiplies rapidly by the roots2 the foliage resembles that of a ,pony1 and its flowers are rose colored1 tipped with white1 and hang from long racemes4 ,as a lawn plant1 for early spring and summer blooming1 it is unsurpassed4 ,perennial ,flax 7,linum perenne71 is a native from beyond the ,mississippi1 and is beautiful in color and shape4 ,its flowers are celestial blue1 and they are very abundant4 ,the plant continues in bloom all summer1 and is an addition to every garden4 ,missouri ,evening ,primrose 7nothera macrocarpa71 also blooms all summer2 its flowers are a golden yellow1 and the plant is dwarf in habit1 but the flowers do not open until the sun's rays are declining4 ,petunias are half hardy ,perennials1 which usually rank with ,annuals in the northern part of the ,united ,states4 ,they are desirable for the smallest plat of ground--as they grow luxuriantly and flower profusely4 ,they take front rank now1 and their curious blotchings and veinings render them very beautiful4 ,the double varieties possess a spicy fragrance1 and many of them are as beautifully striped and mottled as a carnation4 ,columbines1 ,lychnis1 ,french ,honeysuckles1 ,phlox1 ,pinks1 ,achillea and ,campanula are all very beautiful1 and if raised from seeds will increase rapidly from the roots4 ,the ,perennial ,larkspurs have received great additions to their numbers of late years1 and are greatly improved in coloring and the size of the flowers4 ,the blue species possess the most perfect tints--vie with the hues of a cloudless sky6 ,there are no directions needful for preparing the soil1 or planting the seeds1 as they are given so fully in the previous chapter4 ,october is the best month for dividing and transplanting the roots4 ,all perennial plants admit of dividing and transplanting1 and it greatly increases the size and beauty of the flowers1 and enhances their colors4 ,the roots of those kinds not found in the seed catalogues1 can be purchased at the florist's at slight expense1 excepting the rarer kinds and the novelties4 ,trees and ,shrubs1 and nearly all the so-called bedding-out plants1 are strictly speaking perennials2 yet the term is more particularly applied to those flowers whose stems and leaves annually decay1 the roots retaining their vitality4 ,i shall treat more fully of them under the chapter on ,ponies and ,herbaceous plants4 ,i append a list of the most desirable grown from seed3-- ,antirrhinum 7or ,snap-dragon71 all colors1 hardy4 ,aconitum napellus 7,monkshood71 blue and white1 hardy4 ,agrostemma hybride flore pleno1 hardy4 ,alyssum saxatile1 golden yellow1 hardy4 ,aquilegia 7,columbine71 hardy4 ,aralis alpine1 hardy4 ,armeria splendens 7,thrift71 half hardy4 ,astragalus galegiformis1 yellow1 hardy4 ,aubletia deltoides1 hardy1 and beautiful for rock work4 ,bellis 7,double ,daisy71 half hardy4 ,bryonia alba--a trailer1 white flowers1 hardy4 ,calceolarias1 half hardy1 very beautiful4 ,campanula1 white1 blue1 lilac and purple4 ,iberis sempervirens1 ,perennial ,candytuft4 ,carnations1 half hardy1 very desirable4 ,catananche bicolor1 hardy1 white1 with violet center4 ,chelone barbata1 hardy perennial4 ,chrysanthemum japonicum1 very rare4 ,commelyne 7,spiderwort71 half hardy4 ,cowslip1 hardy4 ,datura1 half hardy4 ,delphinium 7,perennial ,larkspur74 ,dianthus of all kinds1 hardy and half hardy4 ,digitalis1 hardy perennial4 ,dodecatheon ,meadia1 hardy4 ,forget-me-not1 hardy4 ,fraxinella1 hardy4 ,galega1 lilac1 white4 ,gentiana macrophylla1 deep blue4 ,guem coccineum 7,scarlet ,avens71 hardy4 ,perennial ,lupins1 hardy4 ,everlasting ,pea1 hardy4 ,lavender spica1 hardy4 ,liatris squarrosa 7,blazing ,star71 a prairie flower4 ,lobelia hybridus4 ,lychnis haageane1 white1 red1 scarlet4 ,mimulus1 half hardy4 ,pansies4 ,papaver 7,perennial ,poppy74 ,penstemnon1 white1 scarlet1 rose1 blue1 purple4 ,petunia4 ,phlox decussata4 ,phygelius capensis4 ,picotee ,pink4 ,paisley ,pink4 ,potentilla1 golden1 crimson1 yellow and white4 ,sedum 7,stonecrop74 ,sweet ,william1 ,hunt's perfection4 ,tritoma uvaria1 half hardy4 ,verbascum1 hardy1 white1 lilac4 ,verbena1 half hardy4 ,wall flower1 very double1 half hardy4 ,biennials4 ,these are plants which1 like ,annuals1 generally die after producing their flowers and seeds1 but are two years in perfecting these1 and in some instances may be induced to flower for two or three successive seasons by preventing them from going to seed2 their general culture is the same as for ,annuals4 ,one of the most beautiful is the ,german ,brompton ,stock4 ,the greatest improvements have been made in these flowers1 and they are now very desirable plants for border or lawn4 ,they are half hardy1 will require protection during the winter in northern climates--but will fully repay the care they demand4 ,any particularly fine plant can be propagated by cuttings1 yet they do not always flower as well as those raised from seeds4 ,among the ,biennials most deserving of culture are3-- ,canterbury ,bells1 double and single varieties1 hardy4 ,carduus1 hardy4 ,humea1 elegant1 half hardy4 ,hollyhocks1 half hardy4 ,hyoscyamus1 hardy4 ,ipomopsis1 half hardy1 orange1 scarlet1 rose4 ,silene ornata1 hardy biennial4 ,silylum elurnium 7,ivory ,thistle71 hardy4 ,german ,stocks1 new dwarf bouquet4 ,stocks1 ,french winter1 or ,cocardean4 ,scarlet ,giant ,cape4 ,trachelium cruleum1 hardy4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,geraniums ,,and ,,pelargoniums4 8,a brilliant carpet of unnumbered dyes1 ,with sweet variety enchants the eyes40 ,these well-known flowers have adorned the gardens1 and been florists' favorites for many years4 ,their pleasing foliage1 and brilliant bloom1 well merit the estimation in which they are held4 ,leigh ,hunt1 the genial ,essayist1 says3--8,everything about the geranium is handsome1 not excepting its name1 which cannot be said of all flowers1 though we get to love ugly words when associated with pleasing ideas4 ,the word ,geranium is soft and elegant2 the meaning is poor1 for it comes from a ,greek word signifying a ,crane1 the fruit1 or seed pod1 resembling the form of a crane's bill4 ,but what a reason for naming the flower6 as if the fruit were anything in comparison1 or any one cared about it4 ,it would be far better to invent joyous and beautiful names for these images of joy and beauty40 ,linnus named the ,geranium from ,geranos1 a crane1 for the reason that ,mr4 ,hunt gives4 ,the plant is often confounded with the ,pelargonium1 which differs from it in size1 shape and coloring of its flowers1 and it is strictly exotic4 ,it was named from ,pelargos1 a stork1 on account of the resemblance of its capsules to the bill and head of that bird4 ,they are placed in the same class of the ,linnan system as the ,geranium 7,monadelphia71 but in the fourth order 7,heptandria71 while the other is in the sixth order 7,decandria74 ,there has been a good deal of confusion with regard to the names of the two plants1 and their numerous varieties1 but the derivation of their titles settles the vexed question4 ,the careful and patient hybridization of the ,french1 ,english and ,american florists have brought these flowers to a high standard of perfection4 ,the ,double ,geraniums4 ,lemoine1 the chief of the ,geranium culturists1 introduced the new double varieties1 which have become a decided acquisition4 ,they do not drop their leaves1 like the single varieties1 and their clusters of flowers are of an immense size4 ,they are of all shades of scarlet and bright rosy pink2 some have produced heads bearing from sixty to eighty perfect flowerets4 ,they outrank all other kinds of ,geraniums1 and yearly their number increases4 ,they flourish better if partially shaded from the intense heat of the noonday sun1 and will bloom until the frost comes1 in the greatest perfection4 ,no white variety has yet been introduced1 but ,m4 ,lemoine will succeed in procuring one1 if skill and patience can produce it4 ,gloire de ,nancy is a brilliant scarlet1 much admired4 ,marie ,lemoine is a dwarf variety1 of a bright rosy-pink hue1 very elegant4 ,emile ,lemoine is of a cherry-carmine4 ,gloire de ,doubles is a novelty for #ahga2 of the richest cerise tint1 with a distinct white center2 far superior to the other varieties4 ,crown ,prince is of a dwarf habit1 and of the brightest rose color4 ,the ,zonale ,geraniums4 ,but the double varieties are not the only ones which should claim our attention4 ,some of the new ,zonale species are admirable in coloring1 and of very free growth2 their trusses of flowers are five to six inches in diameter2 and they are found in all shades1 from the most dazzling crimson and the brightest rose to the purest white4 ,the most desirable are3-- ,king of the ,roses1 a most brilliant scarlet1 shaded to magenta4 ,geant de ,battailles1 a dark1 rich crimson4 ,mrs4 ,keeler1 of a rosy1 peach-blossom hue4 ,among the older varieties1 and less costly1 are3-- ,christine1 a lovely rosy-pink4 ,gen4 ,grant1 a dazzling scarlet1 and decidedly the most profuse blower of the red varieties4 ,incomparable has striped flowers1 white on a clear salmon ground4 ,maid of ,kent1 richest shade of pink4 ,madame ,werle1 white1 with a pink center4 ,reine des ,vierges1 purest white4 ,warrior1 large clusters of the most intense scarlet2 very superior4 ,blue ,bells1 a rich shade of magenta pink1 each blossom of immense size4 ,coleshill1 enormous scarlet truss1 and blows freely4 ,liliputian ,zonales1 or ,tom ,thumb ,geraniums4 ,these comprise a dwarf section of this species1 and grow from six to ten or twelve inches high2 are very stocky1 and their flowers equal in size and beauty of coloring those of larger growth4 ,they are a very attractive plant1 and make pretty borderings for beds or mounds of the taller kinds4 ,baby ,boy1 scarlet1 with white eye4 ,little ,dear1 a delicate rose1 spotted with white4 ,little ,gem1 brilliant vermillion1 with white center4 ,christabel1 very dwarf1 rosy pink4 ,cupid1 a salmon color1 with white eye4 ,pretty ,jemima1 dazzling scarlet1 white center4 ,golden and ,silver ,tri-,color ,geraniums4 ,these varieties are noticed under the head 8,ornamental0 ,foliaged ,plants2 and the ,ivy-,leaved ,geraniums are embraced under the same heading4 ,the ,sweet ,scented ,geraniums4 ,these plants are indispensable for bouquets and vases1 their fragrance being agreeable to all lovers of flowers4 ,formerly1 the ,rose and the ,oak-,leaved were the only kinds commonly cultivated1 but now there are a dozen varieties from which to make a selection1 and all of them are desirable and beautiful1 indeed1 are quite essential1 for there are few plants which afford such graceful backgrounds for borders or bouquets4 ,denticulatum is a rose-scented variety1 with finely cut foliage4 ,lady ,plymouth is also rose-scented1 and its leaves are prettily margined with white4 ,shrubland ,pet is of dwarf growth1 and very sweet scented4 ,odoratissimum possesses a spicy apple perfume4 ,graveolens is of a pleasant scent1 with bright flowers4 ,all these plants will grow luxuriantly with but little care4 ,any one can raise ,geraniums4 ,they delight in a good1 rich loam1 with a mulch of manure2 have a special fancy for 8barn-yard coffee10 or liquid manure4 ,if watered with it1 twice a week during the summer1 will bloom profusely4 ,if your plants are old1 prune them closely1 cutting the branches well in1 and they will reward you for the sacrifice4 ,if they are taken from pots1 you should also prune the roots1 cutting away all the largest roots to within five or six inches of the main stalk4 ,after this vigorous pruning1 the plants should not be exposed to the heat of the day1 but must be shaded for a day or two1 until they recover from their loss2 but thus treated they will speedily put forth new roots1 leaves and buds4 ,if the bed is shaded a little during the hottest part of the day1 they will bloom the better4 ,to produce the largest clusters of flowers1 the stalk above the buds should be pinched off1 thus throwing all the strength of the plant into the formation of flowers4 ,a rich1 light loam will grow ,geraniums to perfection1 and the soil fresh from the woods and pastures1 if enriched with well-rotted cow manure1 is the best that can be obtained4 ,plants delight in a virgin soil1 and those who live in the country can provide themselves with it by lifting the sods from cow or sheep pastures1 and taking the earth from under them4 ,if cuttings are desired from the ,geraniums1 they should be taken in ,july1 from the healthiest plants1 and planted in small pots filled with a compost of loam and sand1 having one or two inches of the former on top of the pot4 ,insert the cutting firmly1 and keep the sand sopping wet until it has rooted4 ,when one or two leaves are developed1 transplant it into a larger pot1 with a compost of one-third rotted cow manure1 one-third black loam1 and one-third sand1 and by ,november you will have vigorous plants for house culture4 ,the large roots can be lifted from the ground before the frost blights their leaves1 and after cutting away all the tender shoots and buds1 and shaking the earth from their roots1 hang them up in a dark1 cool1 dry1 but frost-proof cellar1 heads downward4 ,in the ,spring they can be brought to the light1 the branches cut in1 and though they will look shabby enough1 yet1 if planted in boxes in a warm kitchen1 they will put forth leaves and vegetate rapidly1 and can then be transplanted into the borders4 ,the tender branches and buds should be cut off1 else they will continue for awhile to grow in the cellar1 and thus lose their lives4 ,cuttings can be started in the open borders1 but they are not as sure to live4 ,it is no more trouble to grow a ,geranium than a cabbage1 yet one is far more desirable than the other1 unless hunger is at the door4 ,geraniums are never attacked by the aphis1 or red spider1 and this is a great attribute2 one is not forced to fight for their lives4 ,the ,pelargonium4 ,the flowers of this plant are much sought after on account of their perfect coloring and blotches4 ,there are all shades of scarlet1 crimson1 pink1 purple and white2 the lower leaves1 and frequently the upper1 are veined and blotched with the darkest crimson1 purple and red1 beautifully veined with the lighter shades4 ,the leaves of the plant are more pleasantly perfumed than those of the ,geranium1 and have no zonale1 or horse-shoe markings1 but are of a rich1 vivid green4 ,no description can convey any idea of the beauty of the flowers4 ,they bloom in border or bed all the summer1 and are to be had in hundreds of varieties4 ,they are propagated both from cuttings and seeds1 and the 8novelties0 are produced by careful hybridization4 ,they require a light1 sandy loam1 well enriched with cow manure1 and if they are not plentifully supplied with water1 their buds will wither away4 ,they need more sunlight than the ,geranium to bloom in perfection4 ,some of them are tall in growth1 and produce a good effect planted singly on the lawn4 ,they are the most showy-flowered of all the bedding-out plants1 excepting the ,scarlet ,salvia1 and their varied tints and exquisite colors make them very desirable in the smallest garden4 ,their habit is not always compact1 but they can be cut and trimmed to a fine shape1 and the older plants require such treatment to bloom well1 the second year4 ,among the many varieties offered for our selection1 the most desirable ones are3-- ,gen4 ,taylor1 of a rich crimson1 blotched with the darkest tint of red4 ,niagara1 white1 striped and blotched with crimson4 ,competitor1 black1 edged with rose4 ,emperor of ,pelargonium1 very large flower of snowy whiteness1 spotted with violet1 tinged with rose2 petals finely fringed4 ,eligible1 a pink crimson1 with white edges1 and violet blotches and veins4 ,dr4 ,andre1 pink and white1 petals fringed4 ,cloth of ,silver1 petals of silvery whiteness1 blotched with delicate rose4 ,crimson ,king1 a rich crimson1 beautifully veined and blotched4 ,princess ,hortense1 orange-salmon1 edged with pink4 ,eclipse1 clear white petals1 marked with maroon4 ,belle of ,paris1 rich violet crimson1 upper petals spotted2 an immense cluster of flowers4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,bedding-,,out ,,plants1 ,,pansies1 ,,verbenas1 ,,heliotropes1 ,,feverfews1 ,,etc4 8,your voiceless lips1 ,o flowers1 are living preachers6 ,each cup a pulpit1 every leaf a book6 ,supplying to my fancy numerous teachers ,from loneliest nook40 ,the varieties of plants called by florists bedding-out plants1 are very popular--and deservedly so4 ,their flowers present a brilliant mess of coloring all the summer1 and their hues are richer than those of most other flowers4 ,pansies are great favorites--they will grow in shady nooks where no other flower can bloom--and their flowers continue from the earliest spring until the latest autumn4 ,various and familiar are the names by which the ,pansy has been known for centuries4 ,gerard1 who wrote a long description of it1 says it was known as ,love-in-idleness1 ,jump-up-and-kiss-me1 ,three-faces-under-a-hood1 ,heart's-ease1 and ,pansy4 ,the ,italians named it ,nola farfalla 7,violet ,butterfly74 ,lady ,mary ,bennet of ,england1 afterwards ,lady ,monck1 first introduced the ,pansy to the attention of the florists4 ,early in the present century1 she planted all the varieties of the ,heart's-ease which she could procure1 and with the skillful aid of her gardener1 new varieties were produced from seed4 ,about #ahac1 the well-known florist1 ,mr4 ,lee1 of ,vineyard ,nursery1 at ,hammersmith1 saw ,lady ,mary's collection1 and immediately perceived the profit that would accrue from the cultivation of this flower4 ,his skill and patience were rewarded by the production of still more beautiful varieties4 ,other nurserymen followed his example1 and in a few years the unpretending ,heart's-ease took its place as a florist's flower of no small pretensions4 ,the ,french name ,penses was the origin of the ,english word ,pansy4 ,milton alludes to it as the 8pansy freak'd with jet0 amongst those 8vernal flowers10 whose 8quaint enamel'd eyes a sad embroidery wear40 ,another writer says3-- 8,are not ,pansies emblems meet for thought8 ,the pure1 the chequered--gay and deep by turns2 ,a line for every mood the bright things wear1 ,in their soft1 velvety coats40 ,one must not suppose that rich soil or careful culture have wrought such wonderful changes in the ,pansey4 ,this is only the first step in the march of improvement4 ,the seeds of the finest flowers were carefully preserved1 and the finest of the young seedlings were selected for seed4 ,hybrids were also obtained by fertilizing the stigma of one rarely colored flower1 with the pollen of another of a larger variety4 ,these hybrids generally possess in a great degree the peculiar qualities of each parent1 and retain their peculiar markings4 ,innumerable are the varieties now cultivated2 there are upwards of a thousand named kinds catalogued by the ,english nurserymen4 ,mrs4 ,loudon says in her book upon 8,floriculture10 that 8the varieties of forms and colors which appear in the plants raised from seed are so great that few floricultural pursuits can be more interesting than to sow a bed of ,pansies1 and watch when they flower for the varieties most desirable to perpetuate40 ,by judicious management1 a successive bloom can be retained for eight months in the year1 and even a slight attention to their needs is rewarded by a profusion of beautiful flowers4 ,there is no bedding-out plant which gives a more liberal supply of flowers--from the earliest spring to the latest autumn4 ,plants from seed blossom finely the first year1 and give much larger flowers when the plant is small1 for as it increases in size1 the blooms though abundant are smaller and inferior in coloring4 ,a constant succession of flowering plants should be brought forward daring the spring and summer months1 and the plants kept young and vigorous4 ,this is often done by cuttings as well as seedlings4 ,they can be grown more rapidly1 and are certain to produce fine flowers4 ,the cuttings should be taken from the points of the shoots1 and cut about three inches long1 and immediately below a joint4 ,strip off the lower leaves1 and plant them in sand1 pressing the soil closely around the stem4 ,if planted on the north side of a fence or hedge in a sheltered location1 with an inch of sand covering the cuttings1 they will strike rapidly4 ,if in pots1 they should be covered with glass4 ,in about six weeks they will be well rooted1 and fit to transplant into the flowering beds1 or into pots for window gardening4 ,pansies are often layered1 by pegging down the young shoots with a hair pin1 and covering all but an inch or two of the point with fine sand4 ,an incision can be made at the joint1 as is done in layering roses1 but frequently they will make root equally as well without using the knife4 ,when rooted1 which can be told by the growth of new leaves--separate from the old plant1 and either plant out in borders or in pots4 ,they can also be increased by dividing the old roots1 and the divisions will soon make fine plants4 ,seed can be sown early in the season1 in a hot-bed--following directions given for planting seed1 in ,chapter ,,ii1 and when the fourth or fifth leaves are formed1 the plants can be put into the borders1 and planted a foot apart each way to allow them room to grow4 ,pansies are very gross feeders1 delighting in the richest soil1 with plenty of liquid manure4 ,if large blossoms are desired1 the soil must be of the richest description4 ,the best compost for them is one-third leaf mould1 one-third thoroughly decayed barn-yard manure1 and one-third light loam4 ,in this soil they will blossom most gorgeously4 ,the location should be on the north-west side of the house1 and shaded from the noonday sun4 ,they will not grow to advantage in either light1 sandy soil1 or much sunlight1 but require moisture and shade1 and copious waterings to produce perfect flowers4 ,they are also great deteriorators of the soil1 and will soon run out unless it is renewed4 ,new beds do much better than old ones4 ,after they have blossomed freely until ,july1 cut down the branches several inches1 mulch with well-rotted cow manure1 and by ,september they will be in a blaze of glory4 ,if the amateur florist desires to sow the seed from some especially rare flowers1 they should be carefully tied up1 and no other flower be allowed to go to seed on the same plant4 ,the seed may be sown in spring1 summer or autumn2 in the two former seasons it can be planted in the open ground2 in the latter in pots1 so that the tender seedlings can be protected from the damp4 ,pansies are hardy perennials1 but will wither away if water settles on the bed4 ,they do not like either the wintry ice1 or the excessive heat of summer4 ,violets1 ,sweet ,violets4 ,these flowers cannot compare with their beauteous sisters--the ,pansies--in size or colorings2 they cannot boast such varied blotchings and veinings1 but they possess a higher attribute in their rarely delicious odor--their perfume is unsurpassed by that of any other flower4 ,they are always in demand1 and are very easily raised4 ,with slight protection they will live in the coldest climate1 and before the ,snow-drop hangs its pearly bell1 they will be in full bloom4 ,the ,viola odorissima is the ,english variety most extensively cultivated4 ,several new varieties have been introduced2 among them the double blue ,neapolitan is the most popular4 ,the ,king of ,violets has a very large flower1 and is much cultivated for window gardens4 ,the ,czar is a fine variety2 and the ,schnbrun is a single variety1 very sweet4 ,there are white varieties1 that are also much used by florists1 but the blues are the greatest favorites4 ,the ,violet is the emblematic flower of the ,bonapartes1 as the ,lily is of the ,bourbons4 ,dame ,rumor tells us that ,eugenie expressed her willingness to accept the offer of becoming ,louis ,napoleon's wife by dressing in an exquisite violet toilet--violets in her hair1 about her dress1 and a bouquet of them in her hand1 which were perfectly significant to the wooer4 ,the great ,napoleon selected it as his flower1 through ,josephine's requesting it as a birthday gift4 ,he cultivated them in large quantities in his garden at ,st4 ,helena1 and they were planted over the grave of ,josephine1 and when he was buried1 his coffin was covered with the flowers he loved so well4 ,louis ,napoleon is said to have made himself acquainted with those who were friendly to his interests1 while carefully feeling his way to the throne1 by a cautious display of violets4 ,sweet violets6 ,the ,heliotrope4 ,heliotropes fill an important place among 8bedding-out0 plants1 giving us a plentiful supply of flowers from ,june to ,october4 ,they are desirable for their fragrance1 as well as for their profusion of flowers4 ,they were introduced into ,england from ,peru in #ageg1 and the cottagers called it 8,cherry ,pie10 from a fancied resemblance in its fragrance to the odor of that esteemed dish4 ,it has also been called the 8,vanilla ,plant40 ,the flower first introduced was of a light lavender shade1 and for many years no change of color was effected1 but now it is offered from the darkest purple to the faintest shade of lavender4 ,they make very fine standards1 trained from a single stem1 from one to four feet high1 with a head of several feet in diameter4 ,the older the plant1 the more profuse are its clusters of fragrant flowers4 ,a cutting in the first year will grow very rank1 but if cut back and pruned into one stem1 it becomes woody1 and will make a fine shrub4 ,in ,california1 they bloom as plentifully at ,christmas as at ,fourth of ,july1 and it is not uncommon to see large trellises and walls covered with its branches and exquisite flowers--perfect bouquets of beauty1 being always covered with flowers4 ,the main stems of the plant are trained to the wall1 and the branches droop gracefully4 ,any kind of turfy loam will grow it perfectly4 ,it is propagated from cuttings with great ease4 ,of the very dark varieties1 ,etoile de ,marseilles ranks first2 flowers of a deep violet with white center4 ,duc de ,lavendry is of a rich blush1 with a dark eye4 ,incomparable is of a lovely bluish-lilac4 ,garibaldi is nearly white4 ,leopold #ast1 of a deep violet blue4 ,madame ,facilon1 a clear violet tint4 ,malulatie is of the most delicate lilac4 ,verbenas4 ,among all the variety of 8bedding-out0 plants1 which contribute to the gay and lively appearance of a garden1 the ,verbena is the most generally cultivated1 and claims the first rank among brilliant flowers4 ,some of its varieties are sweet scented1 but most of them depend for their merit upon their showy1 gorgeous coloring1 and their wonderful profusion of blossoms1 which render them of the greatest value4 ,there have been some splendid1 new varieties introduced in the few past years1 whose wondrous stripes and eyes are not approached by any of the older sorts4 ,they are selected from many thousand seedlings1 and are both rich and rare4 ,but any one can raise new varieties from seed1 and good culture will produce magnificent blooms4 ,seedlings will seed much more plentifully than flowers from cuttings1 and the older the cutting the less seed it will give4 ,verbenas do not sprout readily from seed2 they are encased in a horny substance1 and should be soaked in warm water for twenty-four hours1 and then planted in a light sandy loam1 with a good bottom heat4 ,thus treated they will germinate1 and when the fourth leaf is formed1 should be potted into thumb pots in sandy loam4 ,verbenas are natives of ,brazil1 and love the hot sun and sand4 ,if the bed in which they are planted is covered two or three inches deep with common sand1 they will bloom most perfectly4 ,i once raised seventy verbenas from seed1 and planted them in a very sandy soil4 ,such growth ,i never witnessed--they were magnificent6 ,as the plant sends out its first shoots1 they should be pegged down with hair-pins1 and thus coaxed to grow4 ,when watered they desire a copious supply1 and the suds from washing-day are very beneficial to them4 ,guano is also a good manure for them2 dig an iron spoonful around each plant1 not touching the stems4 ,the green lice1 or aphis1 are their plague in pot culture1 but they are destroyed by smoking them with tobacco4 ,put the plants together1 and throw some tobacco on hot coals in a pot saucer2 cover the whole with a wash tub1 and let them smoke for ten or fifteen minutes1 and the lice can be swept up and burned4 ,place the coals as far as possible from the plants1 under the tubs1 so as not to injure them with their heat4 ,if plants are well showered1 no lice will appear--they do not love moisture4 ,if cuttings are desired for winter bloom1 they should be taken off in ,august1 so as to become well rooted4 ,it never pays to take up old plants for winter blooming4 ,among the new ,verbenas for #ahga1 are3-- ,annie1 white1 crimson striped4 ,black ,bedder1 richest maroon4 ,conspicua1 ruby-scarlet1 white eye4 ,cupid1 very large1 white1 tinted with pink4 ,distinction1 solferino1 dark eye4 ,gazelle1 deep blue1 clear white eye4 ,iona1 large scarlet1 yellow eye4 ,muriel1 ruby-pink1 white eye4 ,punctata1 spotted and striped with carmine4 ,rising ,sun1 crimson1 white eye4 ,sensation1 waxy white1 carmine eye4 ,snow ,storm1 pure white1 large and fine4 ,spot1 carmine1 white eye4 ,tricolor1 carmine1 crimson and orange4 ,unique1 white1 carmine spot4 ,all these varieties originated with ,peter ,henderson1 the ,prince of ,american ,floriculture1 and are sure to be true to description4 ,any one can raise a ,verbena1 and no garden can be complete without some of the hundreds of varieties offered by all florists4 ,salvias4 ,these plants are the most gorgeous of all the fall-flowering plants2 they grow from four to five feet high2 and the small plant1 you purchase in the spring of the florist1 will become by ,september a beautiful1 symmetrical bush1 covered with tassels of the brightest scarlet flowers4 ,they are unequaled for planting in masses1 but are very tender1 the first frost rendering them a blackened mass4 ,salvia splendens variegata is a novelty possessing finely variegated foliage1 with flowers as brilliant as the common kind4 ,the roots can be hung up in the cellar in the winter--like the ,geraniums4 ,salvia patens is of a deep blue color1 of the most perfect shade4 ,it has a tuberous root1 which can be kept like a ,dahlia through the winter1 in sand4 ,the ,ageratum4 ,these plants are excellent for beds and borders1 on account of their constant bloom4 ,their flowers are of light porcelain blue1 in large clusters4 ,ageratum ,mexicanum is of a light blue4 ,a1 variegatum has leaves variegated with yellow1 shading with crimson4 ,a1 ,tom ,thumb variety1 growing from six to eight inches1 is desirable for ribbon gardening2 contrasting beautifully with dark crimson leaves4 ,carnations1 ,calceolarias1 ,gazanias1 ,feverfews1 ,lobelias1 ,lantanas1 ,neirembergias1 ,vincas1 etc41 etc41 are all desirable for bedding-out plants1 and can all be raised from cuttings or seeds1 but the former is the surest mode of propagation4 ,how to ,grow ,cuttings of ,geraniums1 ,verbenas1 etc41 etc4 ,to prepare pots for raising cuttings1 fill them two-thirds full1 with rich loam1 dark and porous1 not clayey and heavy2 then pour on an inch or two of yellow sand4 ,wet this thoroughly1 and place the cuttings close to the edge of the pot2 the contact of the pottery promotes the growth of the cutting4 ,cuttings should be taken from the young and newly-formed wood of the plant2 but the lower extremity of it should not be too young and soft1 else it will absorb too much moisture and decay2 neither should it be too old and hard1 for then it will not imbibe moisture enough to enable it to throw out roots4 ,therefore1 cuttings should be taken off at the junction of the old and new wood1 so that these extremes will be avoided4 ,they should be cut off just below a joint or bud1 as the roots start from that point2 and1 if a bud is not left at the base1 it is liable to decay2 the cut should be made smooth across the stem1 taking care not to bruise the bark1 or leave it jagged4 ,most of the hardy1 wooded shrubs and plants are easily propagated by cuttings planted in the open air2 but the tender1 watery-stemmed plants like ,verbenas1 ,heliotropes1 ,fuchsias1 etc41 should be covered with a hand glass1 or raised in a hot-bed4 ,a certain amount of heat1 moisture and shade is required to enable cuttings to strike roots4 ,shade is needful1 because an exposure to the sun or strong light evaporates the little moisture contained in the cuttings1 and causes them to wither away4 ,so1 for three days1 or until the cutting becomes wonted to its location1 shade from exclusive sunlight4 ,peter ,henderson recommends saucer propagation4 ,take a common saucer or shallow dish1 fill it with wet sand and insert the cuttings1 pressing the sand close about them4 ,keep it sopping wet2 if allowed to dry it will check the growth2 when the old leaves have dropped1 and new ones appear at the point of the cutting1 roots have formed2 and the plant may be carefully potted in light1 sandy loam shaded for a day1 and then have all the sunshine it desires1 if it has also sufficient water1 but you must not let it dry up4 ,cuttings of many plants can be readily started in water2 and1 in the early spring1 if you have not a green-house or hot-bed1 it is the safest plan4 ,fill small bottles or vials1 with warmish water1 remove the lower leaves of the cuttings 7be sure to have a bud at the base71 and put them in the water2 hang up the vial to the window sash1 tying a string about the mouth1 for this purpose4 ,if cotton wool is put around the mouth of the vial1 it will prevent the evaporation of the water1 and make the roots sprout more quickly by keeping up a more even temperature4 ,oleanders can be rooted in this manner2 also ,heliotropes1 ,verbenas1 ,roses1 ,fuchsias1 and all kinds bedding-out plants4 ,the process is so simple that a mere child can succeed with it4 ,as soon as the roots are an inch long1 the cutting should be transplanted1 taking care to spread out the tiny rootlets as they grow in the water4 ,some fill up the bottle with rich earth1 let it dry off for two or three days and then break the glass1 and pot or plant out the cutting without disturbing its roots in the least degree4 ,this is the most certain way of obtaining plants from cuttings4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,the ,,fuchsia4 8,thou graceful flower1 on graceful stem1 ,of ,flora's gifts a fav'rite gem6 ,from tropic fields thou cam'st to cheer ,the natives of a climate drear2 ,and grateful for our fostering care1 ,has learn'd the wintry blast to bear40 ,although ,fuchsias1 on their first introduction into ,england1 seventy-three or four years ago1 were treated as stove plants2 they scarcely come under the head of ,window ,gardening1 as many of the species live in sheltered gardens throughout the year1 both in ,england and in this country4 ,in ,california1 they bloom for twelve months in the year1 and grow into large bushes1 perfectly covered with brilliant flowers4 ,their light and graceful appearance renders them desirable in the smallest garden4 ,their gorgeous pendant flowers1 with petals of the richest scarlet dye1 shading down to the palest pink1 or the purest white1 with corollas of glowing purple1 scarlet1 pink or white1 produce a most attractive whole1 and entitle them to a chapter by themselves1 for they are the chief among 8bedding-out0 plants4 ,to their glorious beauty1 ,fuchsias add three other desirable requisites3 their free growth1 their general hardiness1 and the ease with which they are propagated4 ,in bedding them out1 a moist1 shady position is the most suitable2 our noonday sun scorches the tender buds1 and causes them to fall4 ,their native home is in ,brazil1 where ,darwin saw large thickets of them1 and they choose moist locations in the woods4 ,in rich1 loamy soil1 well mixed with leaf mould and rotted cow manure1 the growth of a young cutting is very rapid1 and will make a large plant by the autumn4 ,when it has commenced to grow1 don't check it by neglect1 but during the ,summer months water twice a day with tepid water1 and1 if possible1 give it liquid manure water1 either from the barn-yard1 or by dissolving one table-spoonful of guano in one gallon of warm water2 water with this twice a week1 and its growth will astonish you4 ,fuchsias are as gross feeders as the ,pansy1 and luxuriate in the richest soil2 thus treated1 some kinds will send out shoots from four to five feet in length in six or eight months4 ,they show to great advantage when trained as standards2 to do this1 the side shoots of a young plant must be nipped off1 and the stem trained up a straight stick4 ,when the plant grows high enough for your purpose1 let the side shoots branch out1 and you can grow a fine tree4 ,they can also be trained to walls1 or planted in masses in beds4 ,if the young plant does not branch out1 pinch off the terminal shoot1 and side branches will appear1 and the most central shoot can be trained up for a leader4 ,if plants are set near the cooling spray of a fountain1 they thrive well1 but must not be so near as to keep their roots constantly wet4 ,culture4 ,many gardeners prefer to have new plants every season1 but if old ones are judiciously cared for1 they will produce a finer effect1 and bloom more profusely4 ,large plants can be kept in frost-proof1 dry cellars during the winter1 either in pots or in boxes2 or they can be pulled up by the roots1 the soil shaken from them1 and packed in layers in sand which is thoroughly dry1 first cutting off all the tender shoots4 ,in ,march or ,april they can be brought to the light1 and planted in good1 rich soil1 pruning not only the top1 but the roots4 ,in cutting the top back1 have an eye to its shape1 and prune accordingly4 ,some of the ,fuchsias are of much taller growth than others4 ,speciosa will grow six to eight feet in height2 ,pride of ,england is a small bush compared to it2 while ,souvenir de ,cheswick will readily train into a fine standard4 ,plants must be allowed to follow their natural habits in some respects4 ,to ,grow ,cuttings4 ,fuchsias will strike root as rapidly as ,geraniums4 ,take the cuttings either in ,february1 ,march or ,april1 from three to four inches long ,plant in clear sand1 keep 8sopping wet10 and in three weeks they will be well rooted4 ,pot in three-inch pots1 in the richest of soil1 with a little sand to keep it mellow2 let them grow until the pot is well filled with roots1 which will be in three or four weeks1 then repot in six to eight inch pots1 if designed to grow in them2 but if raised to bed out1 plant in five-inch pots1 and when all fear of frost is passed1 plant in the open borders4 ,be sure not to let the summer heat kill your plants4 ,they will grow well under trees1 if the branches are fifteen feet or more from the ground1 so that the air can circulate freely4 ,these plants are liable to lose their leaves and buds if the soil is not rich enough to their taste1 and red spiders often infest them1 ruining their growth4 ,for the poverty of the soil1 either repot entirely1 or give a top dressing of manure2 for the spiders1 sprinkle daily1 and they may be driven off--they do not love water2 but if this remedy fails1 dip the whole plant into water quite warm to the hand4 ,a dusting of sulphur will kill them1 but it often kills the leaves also4 ,i was much troubled with spiders last season1 on fine plants of ,marksman and ,carl ,halt4 ,i dusted them over with 8,grafton ,mineral ,fertilizer10 and destroyed every one4 ,i scattered the same powder over the soil1 digging in a teaspoonful to each pot 7size eight inches71 and in ,september the plants were in a blaze of glory1 the admiration of every passer-by6 ,the ,double ,flowering ,fuchsias4 ,by careful culture from seed1 these brilliant varieties were produced1 and are unsurpassed for beauty and elegance by any plant in the floral world4 ,studded all over with their bright wealth of jewels1 they far outshine their single brethren4 ,elm ,city held front rank for some years1 but ,marksman far surpasses it now1 and ,warrior is said to eclipse all others4 ,it has a scarlet tube and sepals1 with a rich violet-purple corolla1 and possesses a vigorous habit4 ,so numerous are the varieties of these charming flowers1 that one can hardly make a selection1 when all are so desirable1 but from the lists of ,english and ,american florists ,i cull the following1 to add to those above mentioned3-- ,select ,list of ,double ,fuchsias4 ,tower of ,london1 scarlet sepals1 violet-blue corolla4 ,surpasse ,v4 de ,puebla1 scarlet sepals1 double white corolla4 ,monstrosa1 bright rose sepals1 double white corolla4 ,norfolk ,giant1 crimson sepals1 violet corolla4 ,nonpareil1 two corollas1 the stamens forming a second corolla of a purplish blue2 very elegant4 ,e4 ,g4 ,henderson1 scarlet sepals1 rich violet corolla4 ,wilhelm ,pfitzer1 rosy-carmine sepals1 corolla lavender-blue4 ,symbol1 crimson tube and sepals1 creamy-white corolla4 ,emperor of the ,fuchsias1 sepals crimson1 white corolla4 ,grand ,duke1 crimson1 violet-purple corolla4 ,picturata1 scarlet sepals1 double white corolla4 ,snowdrop1 sepals bright scarlet1 semi-double white corolla4 ,select ,list of ,single ,fuchsias4 ,charming1 violet corolla1 crimson sepals1 immense clusters4 ,annie1 tube and sepals white1 corolla deep pink4 ,arabella1 white sepals1 corolla richest pink2 earliest variety4 ,jules ,calot1 sepals of an orange red1 orange-crimson corolla4 ,lustre1 vermillion corolla1 waxy-white sepals2 early4 ,prince ,imperial1 scarlet sepals1 large violet corolla4 ,father ,ignatius1 carmine sepals1 blue corolla1 bell shaped4 ,fairest of the ,fair1 violet-rose corolla1 white tube and sepals4 ,land of ,plenty1 rich red sepals1 violet-black corolla4 ,marginata1 white sepals1 pink corolla1 shaded to bright rose color4 ,rose of ,castile1 violet corolla1 sepals white4 ,souvenir de ,cheswick1 rosy-crimson sepals1 violet corolla4 ,striped ,unique1 purple corolla1 striped with scarlet4 ,tagliona1 white reflexed sepals1 dark violet corolla4 ,wave of ,life1 violet-blue corolla1 scarlet sepals1 gold tinted foliage4 ,weeping ,beauty1 scarlet sepals1 large blue corolla4 ,the ,golden ,leaved ,fuchsias4 ,of this variety there have been but two specimens1 ,cloth of ,gold and ,golden ,fleece1 until the importation of #ahga1 when several more were added to the list which have attracted much attention in ,england for their beautiful foliage and graceful habit4 ,crown of ,jewels1 leaves clear yellow1 tipped with rich red crimson1 ornamental at all seasons4 ,golden ,mantle1 golden yellow leaves1 flowers coral red4 ,golden ,treasure1 very attractive1 gold colored leaves tinted with bronze4 ,orange ,boven1 the smallest variety grown2 golden leaves tipped with bronze4 ,the ,winter ,flowering ,fuchsias4 ,these are few in number--only two varieties1 which are sure to bloom from ,december to ,may4 ,speciosa is well known2 it produces flowers two inches in length1 tubes and sepals are a waxen peach-blossom color1 with crimson corolla4 ,serratifolia is an equally valuable variety2 the flowers are distinct from any other ,fuchsia4 ,the tube of the flower is crimson1 the tips of the sepals shading to green1 corolla light crimson1 with white stamens4 ,both these plants are extensively cultivated1 and1 if well fed1 will bloom profusely when flowers are a rarity4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,cultivation ,,of ,,the ,,rose4 8,nymphs who haunt th' embowering shades1 ,poesy's enchanting maids1 ,woo thee1 ,rose6 ,thy charms inspire ,all the raptures of the lyre2 ,cull we straight the inviting ,rose1 ,shielded by the thorn it grows2 ,cull the ,rose6 what boots the smart8 ,countless sweets regale the heart40 ,thus sang ,anacreon1 the ,greek poet1 hundreds of years ago1 in praise of the ,queen of ,flowers1 which was used to decorate the temple and the palace--the solemn rites of religion1 and the festal gayety of the banquet4 ,france excels all other nations in the production of new varieties of this lovely flower4 ,the ,empress ,josephine collected every variety then cultivated1 for a rosary at ,malmaison2 and1 under her patronage1 the culture of roses became speedily the fashion4 ,the skill and patience of the florists produced more beautiful varieties1 under the stimulus thus given to their trade2 and they have continued to give us yearly many rich and rare roses2 but have not yet succeeded in producing a blue rose4 ,the ,english florists are but little behind the ,french1 in their attention to this charming flower2 and our own nurserymen yearly produce many beautiful varieties4 ,thousands of named sorts are offered to us2 and it is very hard to make a selection when all possess so much merit4 ,it is usually best1 in purchasing plants1 to leave the selection to the florist1 merely stating the climate1 and soil in which they will grow4 ,it is also best to grow roses on their roots1 unless 8standards0 are desired1 for the old roots will throw up strong suckers1 and thus assert their rights to the detriment of their nursling2 unless these are constantly watched for1 and cut off1 they will destroy the graft4 ,the varieties of the rose have increased with such rapidity in the last twelve years1 and they have produced so many new races1 that it is scarcely possible for the most skillful botanist to refer each variety to its proper parent species4 ,there are ,hybrid ,perpetuals1 ,bourbons1 ,bengal1 ,chinese or ,daily ,rose2 ,tea-scented1 ,noisette1 ,perpetual ,moss1 ,annual ,moss1 ,prairie ,rose as climbers2 ,scotch1 ,damask and all the old varieties of ,garden ,roses4 ,from the thousands of names offered in the catalogues1 lists of those most desirable will be given2 but1 of course1 every one has his own pet fancies4 ,there is no plant which requires a richer soil or better repays the cultivator for attending to its wants2 when grown in a congenial soil its blossoms are perfect4 ,the best soil is fresh loam enriched with well-rotted cow manure1 with a little sand4 ,if a top dressing of this compost is given every spring before the buds start1 the branches will make fine growth4 ,the finest clusters of flowers are always produced on new wood1 and close pruning will cause more new wood to grow1 and ensure you a more splendid show of flowers4 ,use the knife freely1 though it does make you ache to do so2 cut all the old growth out1 and prune in last year's branches a little2 thus pruned1 the roots will throw up new shoots1 from whence will come the finest roses of the garden4 ,as soon as the plants have done flowering1 thin out the weak shoots1 and even some of the stronger ones1 if they are too crowded2 each shoot left1 should be exposed on every side to air and sun4 ,the summer flowering kinds thus treated will continue their growth from the main shoots1 and bloom much finer another year2 while the autumnal flowers push forth their buds the entire length of the stalk1 and the second flowering is perfected4 ,the roses are improved in both varieties2 for shoots grown at that period of the year invariably produce the finest flowers4 ,it has been recommended by some writers1 to destroy the first bloom of those roses which bloom twice in the season2 because there is an abundance of roses in ,june1 and by so doing a finer bloom is obtained in the autumn4 ,too many roses6 ,has any one ever witnessed such a season8 ,let them bloom when they will1 and cut off the stems as soon as the leaves fall2 then remove the soil to the depth of three or four inches1 and spread over it1 almost close to the stem1 a spadeful of cow manure well decayed2 throw back the soil that was removed1 and1 if the weather is hot and dry1 water occasionally1 and you will have a vigorous growth and a profuse flowering4 ,the flower stalk should always be cut off2 it exhausts the plant to form seeds1 and consumes the strength which should go to forming new shoots4 ,when roses are planted in lawns1 they should have no sods near the roots2 for the grass will absorb all the moisture1 and also prevent the air from reaching the soil4 ,the best time to plant hardy roses is in ,october or ,november1 according to the climate4 ,spring months are better for planting half-hardy and tender roses1 as their roots will not get started before winter sets in4 ,of course1 in the mild climates of the ,southern ,states1 they can also be planted in the late autumn4 ,when first set out they should be mulched with coarse manure1 and watered occasionally1 if the weather is warm and dry4 ,cuttings of ,roses4 ,roses are propagated chiefly by cuttings1 layers and buds4 ,cuttings of the hardy kind of roses1 will strike easily in ,july and ,august4 ,hybrid ,perpetual1 ,chinese and ,bourbon1 with all the other kinds will grow readily1 if the cutting has1 what gardeners term1 a heel2 that is1 cut off close to the old wood4 ,three1 four or even six eyes can be left above ground4 ,plant them as recommended in chapter six2 in wet sand4 ,a dozen cuttings can be set an inch apart1 close to the pot2 and the sand should not be allowed to dry at all4 ,if covered with a 8cloche10 or hand-glass1 a moist temperature will be kept up1 and1 in two or three weeks1 they will commence to grow4 ,layering ,roses4 ,roses grown as dwarfs or bushes are the kind that will layer advantageously4 ,loosen the soil about the plant1 then choose a good shoot1 strip off a few leaves from six inches to two feet from the point of the shoot2 insert a sharp knife just behind an eye1 on the upper side of the shoot1 and pass it carefully upwards cutting about half through the stem1 and from an inch to two inches in length4 ,open the soil1 bend down the shoots and press it in2 peg it down with a hair pin or a bit of wood1 two or three inches beneath the soil1 and cover it firmly4 ,each layer should be tied to a stake to prevent the wind from disturbing the roots4 ,june1 ,july and ,august are the best months for layering4 ,if the weather is dry and hot1 water frequently4 ,don't let the layers dry up2 about ,october or ,november they will be large enough to take away4 ,cut them off within two inches of the root1 and transplant them wherever they are desired4 ,in the spring prune the stem down to three or four eyes1 and they will bloom finely4 ,the ,chinese method of layering is often more successful than any other4 ,at the end of ,july or beginning of ,august1 they select a strong shoot of the same year's growth1 tongue it1 as described above1 and put in a small stone to keep the slit open1 and bind a handful of fresh green moss around the tongue4 ,this must be kept constantly wet1 and the tiny roots will shoot forth into the moss so rapidly1 that in five or six weeks the layer can be removed from the parent stalk4 ,the roots can be planted without disturbing the moss1 and fine plants are thus procured4 ,budding ,roses4 ,budding roses is a very simple process1 and an old razor can do duty for a budding knife1 and the handle of an old toothbrush1 if scraped down smooth1 will answer for a wedge4 ,the latter part of ,june to the middle of ,august1 is the best season for budding2 or1 when the bark of the stalk can be easily raised from the wood1 this is a sure sign that one can bud with success4 ,take a smooth part of the stem at the height you desire1 and on the side least exposed to the sun2 with the razor make a horizontal cut across the bark through to the wood1 but not in to it2 from the center of this cross-cut make one straight down the stem1 an inch or more in length2 these two cuts should be in the form of a ,t4 ,now prepare the bud1 or shield1 as it is termed4 ,slice it off from the rose you desire to bud from at one cut1 and the shoot must be cut off close to the main stalk2 then the bud is sliced off1 with a portion of the old wood adhering to it2 most of this should be picked out1 but a little at the back of the bud is essential to life2 if you make a hole through its bark throw it away1 it will not grow4 ,now1 with the thin edge of the toothbrush handle1 turn back the stem on each side of the straight cut1 and insert the bud close to the wood1 and fit it accurately and firmly to the cross-cut in the turned-back bark2 on this close contact of the two barks will depend the success of your operation4 ,lay the turned-back bark closely over the bud1 or shield1 and with woolen yarn1 or a bit of bass-wood1 bind it down1 leaving the point of the bud clear4 ,common adhesive plaster is said to be better for this purpose than either yarn or bass4 ,a handful of damp moss should be tied around the whole1 leaving the tiny point of the bud exposed to the air4 ,in six weeks at the farthest these ties can be removed4 ,all other shoots on that stem should be cut off1 so as to throw the strength of the plant into the support of the new comer4 ,by budding you may produce several kinds of roses upon the same plant4 ,take a common wild rose1 cut down all its suckers1 and trim in its branches1 and bud with white1 pink1 crimson and yellow roses4 ,as soon as the buds commence to grow1 cut off all the wild shoots1 and you will have a beautiful show of flowers4 ,variegated shrubs can be budded in this manner upon the plain green stocks4 ,grafting roses is not so popular as formerly2 but the operation is easily performed4 ,any one who can graft a tree1 can graft a rose4 ,the stock to be grafted should be more forward than the scion1 and the operation should be performed when the sap is rising4 ,april or ,may are the best months4 ,the most important points in a good rose are1 that its 8constitution should be hardy1 and vigorous1 with a robust habit of growth1 good foliage and profuse bloom4 ,the flower should be fine in form1 large in size1 decided in color4 ,the form of the flower1 whether it be globular1 cupped1 or widely expanded1 should be symmetrical2 the petals even and regular in their arrangement1 full but not too crowded2 the outer range broad and firmly set1 rendering the flower more lasting4 ,in texture they should be firm and thick1 not thin and flimsy4 ,fragrance1 and a firm upright stem are desirable points4 ,a green or yellow center to a flower when fully open1 is a great fault4 ,there is no kind of shrub in existence so well adapted to take various forms as the rose4 ,it can be used as a dwarf to fill the smallest beds2 as a shrub to plant among evergreens2 and as a tall standard to form avenues of roses on each side of a walk4 ,it can be planted in groups with a climber in the center1 half standards around it1 and dwarfs for an edging2 again1 as climbers to adorn a villa or a cottage1 also to cover bare walls and trellises4 ,yet none of these forms will show off its beauty and elegance as effectually as training it to a pillar4 ,pillar ,roses4 ,iron rods with arches of the same material1 or small chains hung loosely from pillar to pillar so as to form festoons1 will produce a charming effect1 making a lovely bower4 ,the pillars can be made either of a single upright post1 or four rods can be set at about nine inches distant from each other1 thus forming a square pillar1 fastened with interlacings of strong copper wire4 ,the rose can be planted in the center1 and the branches trained to each corner rod1 the small shoots twined between them4 ,bring all the shoots to the outside1 and do not let any twine round the rods1 but tie them to each with strings2 and whenever they require painting1 which is needful to protect the iron from rusting1 or1 if the plants are tender1 and need protection1 they are easily loosened from their support4 ,poles of oak1 ash or pine can supply the places of the iron rods2 and1 by fixing them firmly into the ground in a triangular shape1 three feet apart at the base1 and fastening the tops together with strong copper wire1 a pyramid of different colors can be formed1 by planting three different roses at the foot of the poles1 and training them so that the various hues will be seen4 ,weeping ,roses4 ,these form beautiful objects when planted singly on lawns4 ,roses of a pendulous habit must be used1 such as the ,aryshire and ,evergreen4 ,bud them on stocks four feet or upwards in height2 the main shoots1 after the second year1 should not be shortened until they touch the ground2 prune only the side branches1 and the flowers will be produced from all along the branches from the head to the ground4 ,when they attain their full size a hoop shall be attached to prevent the branches from blowing about in the wind4 ,slugs on ,rose ,bushes4 ,for several years past these pests have ruined the glory of the 8,queen of ,flowers10 and turned her beauty into deformity1 changing the ornaments of the garden with unsightly bushes1 sparsely covered with skeleton leaves4 ,before the buds are formed1 minute white spots appear on the under surface of the leaves2 these change rapidly into horrid green worms which devour all the green part of the leaves1 and also the buds and flowers4 ,if taken in season they can be destroyed4 ,i used 8,grafton ,mineral ,fertilizer0 with great effect last season1 keeping the foliage of a tall pink ,moss ,rose entirely free from their ravages2 while directly across the path1 a yellow ,harrison was left to them1 and was utterly ruined4 ,the powder is inodorous2 can be scattered over the leaves before the dew is dried off1 and will drive them away4 ,i made the first application in ,may1 a second one early in ,june1 and a third after the roses had fled4 ,not a green worm was seen on the leaves4 ,the foliage was perfect4 ,powdered lime1 if scattered over the leaves while wet with dew1 will also keep them off4 ,a few years ago ,i saw a most beautiful rose garden at ,plattsburgh1 ,n4 ,y41 not a slug had touched the leaves1 and it was early in ,july4 ,the lady owner told me that the bushes were syringed with ten gallons of warm water1 in which one pint of soft soap1 and one pint of common fine salt had been dissolved4 ,this mixture killed them all4 ,it was applied in ,may1 and again in ,june4 ,other preparations are used2 white hellebore1 sprinkled on through a dredging box1 and flour of sulphur1 similarly applied1 are found efficacious4 ,there are two crops of the slugs2 the first comes in ,may1 and when the worms are fully developed they burrow in the ground1 and lie in a chrysalis state until ,august1 when they appear with wings1 and lay a crop of eggs for the ensuing summer4 ,if the first crop are not entirely destroyed1 it is well to repeat the application in ,august1 so as to diminish the supply for the next season4 ,the following comprises a good collection of ,hybrid ,perpetuals3-- ,achille ,gonaud1 bright carmine4 ,alex4 ,bachmeteff1 deep1 brilliant rose1 large and fine4 ,baron ,prevost1 rich rose color4 ,cardinal ,patrizzi1 dark1 velvety crimson4 ,comte ,litta1 velvety purple4 ,caroline de ,sansal1 pale flesh color4 ,eugene ,appert1 scarlet crimson4 ,gen4 ,jacqueminot1 brilliant red1 very large4 ,john ,hopper1 rosy-crimson1 extra4 ,jules ,margottin1 carmine1 shaded to purple4 ,la ,reine1 clear rose1 large cupped1 superb4 ,lady ,emily ,peel1 white1 edged with rose4 ,mad'lle ,bonnaire1 pure white1 tinged with rose at the center4 ,mad4 ,freeman1 white1 with yellowish shade4 ,ponia1 deep brilliant crimson4 ,reine des ,violets1 reddish violet4 ,victor ,verdier1 large1 full carmine1 one of the best4 ,bourbon ,roses4 ,archduke ,charles1 rosy crimson4 ,bourbon ,queen1 rich blush4 ,blanche ,lafitte1 pale flesh color1 beautiful4 ,duchesse ,furringe1 white4 ,empress ,eugene1 deep rose4 ,jupiter1 dark purple4 ,hermosa ,pink1 a profuse bloomer1 with lovely buds4 ,malmaison1 blush1 large and fine4 ,omar ,pasha1 deep carmine4 ,paxton1 bright rose1 crimson shaded4 ,sombreuil1 white4 ,bengal or ,china ,roses4 ,agrippina1 deep crimson4 ,archduke ,charles1 changeable4 ,eugene ,beauharnais1 rich crimson4 ,indica ,alba1 white daily4 ,madam ,preon1 fine rose4 ,lucullus1 dark crimson4 ,pink ,daily4 ,louis ,philippe1 crimson and rose4 ,sanguinea1 blood-red4 ,noisette ,roses4 ,augusta1 pale yellow4 ,amie ,vibert1 pure white4 ,beauty of ,green ,mount1 deep rose color4 ,gloire de ,dijon1 bronze yellow1 with orange center4 ,lamarque1 large1 pure white4 ,la ,pactole1 pale yellow4 ,setina1 bright pink4 ,solfaterre1 yellowish white4 ,souvenir de ,anselm1 clear carmine1 very fragrant4 ,washington1 clear white4 ,tea ,scented ,roses4 ,alba ,rosea1 white1 with rose center4 ,amabilis1 rose color4 ,belle ,alamande1 blush4 ,bougere1 salmon rose1 bronzed4 ,bon ,silene1 purple1 shaded to carmine4 ,marechal ,niel1 golden yellow1 sweetest of the sweet4 ,cornelia ,cook1 canary yellow4 ,devoniensis1 creamy white4 ,leveson ,gower1 rosy salmon4 ,madame ,falcot1 nankeen yellow4 ,madame de ,vatrey1 carmine rose4 ,pauline ,lebonte1 light blush4 ,safrano1 bright buff1 very free bloomer4 ,triomphe de ,luxembourg1 rose color4 ,white ,tea1 pure white1 blooms freely4 ,moss ,roses4--,perpetual4 ,perpetual ,white1 very fine4 ,madame ,edward ,ory1 deep rose4 ,maupertius1 velvety-red1 very dark4 ,raphael1 blush1 large clusters4 ,salet1 bright rose4 ,souvenir de ,pierre ,vibert1 dark red1 shaded with violet4 ,annual ,moss ,roses4 ,english ,moss1 old variety1 very mossy4 ,adelaide1 crimson4 ,glory of ,mosses1 rose color2 fine4 ,alice ,leroy1 pale lilac4 ,luxembourg1 crimson4 ,henry ,martin1 brilliant carmine4 ,prairie ,roses4--,hardy ,climbers4 ,baltimore ,belle1 nearly white4 ,queen of the ,prairie1 rosy red4 ,seven ,sisters1 crimson1 shading to white4 ,gem of the ,prairies1 a hybrid between the ,queen of the ,prairie and ,madame ,laffay2 a strong1 vigorous grower1 flowers rich rosy crimson1 and of delicious fragrance4 ,a great acquisition to climbing roses4 ,the oldest ,rose ,bush in the world is said to be one which is trained upon one side of the ,cathedral of ,hildesheim1 in ,germany4 ,its age is unknown1 but documents exist which prove that a ,bishop ,hezelio1 nearly a thousand years ago1 protected it by a stone roof1 which is still in existence4 ,the largest ,rose ,bush is a white ,banksia1 in the ,marine ,garden at ,london1 which was sent there1 the first of its kind1 in #ahac1 by ,bonpland4 ,its numerous branches1 some of which measure eighteen inches in circumference1 cover an immense wall to a width of nearly sixty feet1 and at times1 in early ,spring1 as many as fifty thousand flowers have been counted on this ,queen of all ,roses6 8,roses are of royal birth1 ,loveliest monarchs of the earth6 ,not the realm of flowers alone1 ,but human hearts their sceptre own4 ,mark what flowers the maiden's hand ,gathers for her bridal band2 ,what the sweetest influence shed1 ,round the grateful sufferer's bed2 ,what with holiest light illume ,the grief and darkness of the tomb40 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,ornamental ,,vines4 8,flowers6 bright1 beautiful1 love-beaming flowers1 ,they are linked with life's sweetest and sunniest hours2 ,like stars about our pathway ,they shine so pure and fair1 ,blooming in rich profusion1 ,greeting us everywhere40 ,trees and flowers are not enough with which to adorn and beautify our surroundings2 we must have vines1 an abundance of vines4 ,a house without vines is like a bird without a mate2 it wears a look of desolation4 ,vines grow so thriftily1 bloom so profusely1 and can be twined into so many beautiful forms--are so fresh1 blooming and fragrant--that they should be trained about every house4 ,the most modest little cot can be transformed into a flowery bower by the aid of a few climbing plants4 ,your homes may lack the paint1 gilding and tapestry that adorn those of your neighbors1 but if vines are trained over the doors and windows1 they will present a fresh beauty and glory every ,summer's morn1 which the products of art cannot surpass4 ,nature has given us the means of adorning our surroundings1 and they are innocent1 animating1 and contribute to our piety towards her4 ,we do not half avail ourselves of the cheap riches wherewith she adorns the earth4 ,a few seeds1 for instance1 and a little trouble1 would clothe our houses every ,summer as high as we choose1 with draperies of green and scarlet1 and after admiring the beauty we might eat the produce4 ,but then this produce is a bean1 and beans are vulgar4 ,nobody despises a vine in front of a house1 for vines are polite1 and the grapes seldom good enough to be of use4 ,hops are like vines1 yet who thinks of adorning his house with them8 ,no1 they also are vulgar6 ,thus writes ,leigh ,hunt in his flowery 8,essays40 ,there are many despised things that are1 if properly cultivated1 capable of great beauty2 but ,i should prefer the ,scarlet ,bean as a covering to my pantry windows1 and the ,hop and ,grape ,vine to trail over the kitchen garden wall1 while the ,morning ,glory1 with all its wealth of entangled vines and flowers1 should throw its radiance around the dining-room piazza1 and shield its windows from the scorching sun at noonday4 ,these same ,morning ,glories are glories indeed1 and are not half appreciated4 ,the delicate ,japonica receives far more attention than its coarser parent1 but it is infested with bugs1 which make it a nuisance1 while none dare as yet to molest my 8,glories40 ,we pay high prices for exotic vines and climbing roses1 and let the lovely vines of our own woods remain uncultivated in their wildness4 ,there is no country that does not possess rarely beautiful vines1 which well reward the cultivator with their luxuriant beauty4 ,they are scattered from the ,white ,mountains to the ,gulf of ,mexico1 and all through the ,western ,states on to the ,pacific ,slope4 ,climbing roses are bowers of beauty for a few weeks1 but after that are only briars1 wormy and miserable4 ,there is little beauty in their foliage2 it is all compressed in their flowers2 yet the ,prairie ,rose is more commonly used to twine over a verandah1 while the ,wistaria1 ,jasmine1 ,woodbine1 ,honeysuckle1 etc41 are planted in less conspicuous places1 or not at all4 ,i delight in ,climbing ,roses--do not think ,i would disparage them--but they are far prettier the greater part of the year1 if trained to pillars rather than to piazzas4 ,ampelopsis quinquefolia 7,virginia ,creeper or ,five-,fingered ,ivy71 is a very hardy vine that will withstand the coldest ,new ,england winter4 ,it grows most rapidly1 and its dark green foliage1 which changes to scarlet and brown in the ,autumn1 makes it very desirable for piazzas1 rustic arbors1 or trellis work4 ,it will cling to brick walls as readily as the ,english ,ivy2 it is perfectly free from insects1 and so flexible that it can be trained to any position4 ,akebia quinata is an imported vine from ,japan1 with gracefully cut foliage1 and large clusters of very fragrant1 chocolate colored flowers4 ,it is perfectly hardy4 ,aristolochia ,sipho 7or ,dutchman's ,pipe71 is a handsome climber for verandahs2 its flowers resemble a short-stemmed pipe1 are of a brownish hue1 and the leaves are very large and of a bright green4 ,it requires a rich soil to grow well4 ,bignonia radicans 7or ,trumpet ,creeper71 is a very showy1 robust plant1 and produces a profusion of reddish-orange flowers4 ,it is well adapted to plant against old trees1 or to cover unsightly walls4 ,bignonia grandiflora is fine for pillars or trellises1 being of a more graceful habit than the radicans4 ,bignonia ,venusta is a very beautiful half-hardy climber1 but requires age to perfect its blossoms1 which are of a beautiful orange scarlet4 ,for the ,southern ,states it is unsurpassed in beauty1 but for the ,northern it needs the protection of a greenhouse4 ,jasminum nudiflorum 7or ,carolina ,jessamine71 is tender north of ,maryland1 but is one of the most attractive vines in the ,united ,states4 ,its plentiful yellow flowers are rarely fragrant1 and it grows in profusion all through the ,south1 turning its luxuriant branches among the forests4 ,no matter whether it is located in the piney barrens1 or the rich swamp lands1 it is a bower of beauty4 ,celastrus scandens 7or ,bitter-sweet71 is a very attractive climber1 particularly in the ,autumn1 when its orange berries are very handsome4 ,the scarlet seed-covers are surrounded with orange-colored capsules1 which open as the seeds become ripe1 and make it very ornamental4 ,it twines so close to the trees that it will frequently choke out the life of young saplings4 ,in ,massachusetts it is called ,roxbury ,wax ,work4 ,it grows abundantly all through ,new ,england1 and bears transplanting and cultivating with good effect4 ,cocculus ,carolinus is a native of the ,carolinas1 and has bright red fruit1 resembling the common currant4 ,of ,honeysuckles 7or ,loniceras71 we have a numerous variety4 ,the scarlet or coral species are well-known1 and the fragrant pink and white monthly is very popular4 ,of late years different varieties have been imported from ,china and ,japan1 which are very desirable4 ,among the ,chinese1 the ,golden ,leaved ,lonicera is one of the finest4 ,it is a rapid grower1 with small wiry stems1 the foliage is netted with gold1 the flowers are white and very fragrant4 ,lonicera ,halliana is evergreen2 its flowers pure white1 turning to yellow2 perfectly hardy1 and flowers monthly in profuse clusters4 ,lonicera brachypoda1 or ,japan ,honeysuckle1 is a very beautiful vine2 its flowers are of the most delicious fragrance1 and there is no hardy vine that can excel it2 its leaves are evergreen1 and very glossy4 ,the ,clematis are rapid growers1 the native varieties flowering in ,august when other vines are not always in beauty4 ,great improvements have been made in them by the ,english florists1 and there are no lovelier vines for piazzas and verandahs4 ,the following are the most prominent of the cultivated varieties1 flowering from ,june onward3 ,clematis ,fortuni has very large1 double-white flowers4 ,clematis ,jackmanii is a profuse bloomer1 with large1 violet-colored blossoms4 ,clematis ,standishii is blue1 and flowers finely4 ,clematis ,rubella has rich purple blossoms4 ,all of these varieties are new hybrids1 and cannot fail to give satisfaction to the cultivator4 ,hedera helix 7or ,english ,ivy71 is the most popular of evergreen vines1 and very suitable for covering rock work1 fences1 walls1 trees or arbors4 ,it adheres readily to a tree or to stone1 but does not take as kindly to brick1 requiring some slight support1 frequently to keep it attached to the walls4 ,it is much used for covering houses1 but in climates where it will live throughout the year it is unequaled for a bordering to flower beds4 ,grass will force its tiny roots into the borders1 but the ,ivy is contented to twine its branches along the edges4 ,a quantity of strong young plants are desirable to commence with1 and they should be planted rather thickly and kept well mingled together4 ,in the ,summer1 their fresh green leaves contrast perfectly with the darker foliage1 and all through the winter their verdure is pleasing4 ,such edgings form a beautiful setting for flowers1 while they are so charming as to make it desirable to cultivate the 8dainty plant0 for its own worth4 ,after the edging has once become established1 by pinching off and cutting back the young shoots1 it can be easily kept in perfect order4 ,nearly every courtyard in ,paris displays the ,english ,ivy1 either covering trellises as a dark background to brilliant thickets of ,geraniums1 or trained over a bower4 ,the plants are grown in large boxes1 filled with a rich turfy soil1 and thus supplied they make rapid growth4 ,at the ,french ,exposition1 the garden was filled with all that was richest and rarest1 yet ,mr4 ,robinson tells us1 in his book upon 8,french ,gardens10 that a pretty circular bower covered with ,ivy attracted first the attention of every passer-by4 ,it was composed of a wire frame1 shaped like an umbrella1 with the handle inserted in a huge tub of very rich earth1 in which the roots were planted4 ,boards were laid over the tub1 which formed a circular seat1 and with these simple means a most lovely bower was produced4 ,the ,ivy was trained so as to cover every part of it1 and entirely shade the seat4 ,any ingenious boy could make a similar one1 and1 with proper appliances1 some girls could accomplish it4 ,as a screen1 this plant is in great demand in ,france1 and entire garden walls are often covered with it1 making a most perfect background for the brilliant hues of the flowers4 ,those of us who live in colder climates could substitute the ,german ,ivy for edgings4 ,i tried it last season1 and it grew beautifully1 but it will winter kill4 ,an old umbrella frame1 stripped of its dilapidated covering1 will make a fine trellis for delicate vines like the ,canary ,bird ,flower1 ,thunbergia1 ,maurandya1 and ,cypress ,vine4 ,sharpen the handle to a point1 and fix it firmly in the ground1 pressing in the ivory tip of each end1 so that the wind cannot disturb it4 ,it will look prettily on the lawn1 or in the center bed of the garden1 when the graceful twining vines have covered it with their beautiful flowers and foliage1 and almost every garret can furnish the skeleton1 if the closet cannot provide one4 ,a worn-out sunshade will make a baby trellis that will be very charming1 when covered with the gorgeous hues of the ,tropolum1 which should not be neglected in a chapter upon ,vines4 ,they grow readily from seed1 and their butterfly-colored flowers are always beautiful4 ,if branches are broken off in the ,autumn1 and put into vases filled with water1 the flowers will bloom for a long time2 the roots starting out at each joint will furnish a support for them4 ,coba scandens is a rapid growing vine1 with large purple bell-shaped flowers4 ,it is not hardy in the ,northern ,states1 but can be kept in pots during the ,winter1 and will twine over the windows4 ,coba scandens variegata is like the former1 only its leaves are margined with yellowish-white4 ,if planted in rich soil1 these vines can be made to grow thirty feet in a season4 ,glycine ,sinensis 7or ,chinese ,wistaria71 is a very elegant vine of quick growth2 it has long1 pendulous clusters of pale blue flowers both in the ,spring and ,autumn1 and will soon cover a large surface4 ,wistaria ,sinensis ,alba is a white variety1 not so robust as the blue4 ,wistaria ,frutescens 7or ,american ,glycine71 is more of a dwarf habit than the above-mentioned4 ,passiflora ,incarnata 7,half ,hardy ,passion ,vine71 is very beautiful4 ,its flower is supposed to represent the ,crucifixion of ,christ1 and thence its name4 ,periploca ,grca 7,virginia ,silk ,vine71 is another native climber that deserves attention1 in preference to many that are tender4 ,it is a hardy grower1 and will soon cover an arbor or wall4 ,a native of ,syria4 ,care and attention must be given to the training and fastening of all climbers1 as their beauty is greatly injured by allowing them to grow in a wild and neglected manner2 it also gives a wild look to a house1 which does not add to its general appearance4 ,wherever there is an unsightly fence1 there is the opportunity to try your hand at cultivating vines which grow wild in your woods1 or which can be raised from seeds at a trifling expense4 ,wreath all such places with climbing vines1 and let their ugliness be hid under the delicate foliage and brilliant flowers of the climbers4 ,your wood1 brick1 or stone houses are bare in their angular outlines1 and lack the graceful elegance which ornamental vines will give them4 ,twine over them some climbing plant1 and architecture and nature will combine to produce the most picturesque effect2 and you will learn that-- 8,the flowers in silence seem to breathe ,such thoughts as language cannot tell40 ,and when the outside is beautiful1 let the inside be replete with comfort1 order1 taste1 virtue1 peace1 good-will and love4 ,the following diagrams will furnish designs for supports for ,ornamental ,vines4 ,they can be made from six to eight feet high4 ,the center piece of each trellis should be thicker than the outer or main supports1 at least three-quarters of an inch thick1 and from an inch to an inch-and-a-half wide4 ,these frames should be painted green or white1 according to one's preference4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #a4 ,,fig4 #b4 ,,fig4 #c4 ,,fig4 #d4 ,,fig4 #e4 ,,fig4 #f4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,ornamental ,,shrubs ,,for ,,garden ,,and ,,lawn4 8,thank ,god for the beautiful ,flowers ,that blossom so sweetly and fair2 ,they garnish this strange life of ours1 ,and brighten our paths every where2 ,they speak of the heaven above us1 ,where angels are singing ,his praise1 ,where dwell the dear ones who love us1 ,who faded from earth's thorny ways40 ,shrubs are indispensable in the smallest collection of plants4 ,many of them are early risers1 and bloom as soon as the frost and ice have disappeared4 ,once obtained and planted out in good1 rich soil1 they require but little attention1 and will bloom for years in the same locality4 ,yet their foliage and flowers will be more luxuriant and beautiful1 if they are treated to a few shovelsful of compost or manure1 yearly4 ,if it is given to them in the autumn1 it acts as a protection from the frost1 and can be dug into their roots early in the spring4 ,when they are first planted1 it is better to take the autumn rather than the spring for the operation2 but if done in ,march or ,april 7according to the climate71 be sure to mulch the roots with long stable litter1 or a few inches deep of hay2 this will keep them from drying up during the heat of summer4 ,the ,flowering ,almond takes first rank1 because it blooms so early1 and though very common1 is always popular4 ,if it is neglected it will grow ill-shaped and scraggy1 but if it is cut back as soon as its blossoms are fallen1 its increased growth will soon repay their sacrifice4 ,the ,flowering ,plum is called by some the ,white ,flowering ,almond1 and is equally hardy1 its flowers being as double as those of the ,almond1 and of a snowy whiteness4 ,the ,lilac is always admired1 will always be cultivated2 every house must have at least one or more of these shrubs4 ,the purple variety is seen everywhere2 the white is not quite as common1 and is not as sickishly sweet as the purple4 ,the ,persian and ,chinese ,lilacs are more beautiful than the common kinds4 ,the former is a small tree of graceful habit1 and its flowers are of a lighter lilac color4 ,the latter is especially desirable1 the flowers are much darker than the other varieties1 and its foliage is of a dark glossy green1 very rich4 ,these shrubs are perfectly hardy1 and are usually grown without any care1 yet if pruned and manured their beauty will be much increased4 ,cydonia ,japonica1 or ,scarlet-flowered ,japan ,quince1 is also a well-known shrub1 producing quantities of the richest scarlet flowers close to its branches2 it is indispensable in every garden4 ,calycanthus floridus1 or ,allspice ,flower1 is an old favorite1 not so often cultivated in these latter days4 ,its foliage is of a light glossy green1 and its flowers are of the darkest maroon1 and very fragrant2 both blossoms and branches possess a strong spicy flavor1 and it is sometimes called the ,strawberry ,shrub1 from a fancied resemblance to the odor of that berry4 ,forsythia viridissima is one of the earliest of all shrubs in blossoming2 its bright golden-lined flowers appear before the leaves are hardly visible1 and completely cover the branches4 ,flowering ,acacia1 with its profusion of pink and white pea-shaped blossoms1 is always welcome4 ,its foliage is deeply serrated like the ,locust leaves2 its habit is straggling1 which detracts from its beauty4 ,hydrangea quercifolia1 or ,oak-leaved ,hydrangea1 has strongly marked foliage1 and its blossoms are in large panicles of white flowers4 ,it blooms in ,july1 and is a great attraction on a lawn4 ,hydrangea deutziafolia is a recent importation from ,japan4 ,its leaves resemble those of the ,deutzia2 it blooms in ,august1 bearing very large panicles of snowy white flowers1 which change to pink1 and finally to a brownish purple4 ,it is a valuable addition to a garden or lawn4 ,the ,deutzias are generally cultivated1 and are always beautiful4 ,deutzia gracilis is perfectly hardy1 and has plentiful clusters of pure white flowers4 ,deutzia scrabra is of larger growth1 often attains to five or six feet1 and is covered with clusters of blossoms1 which resemble the ,orange flower without its fragrance4 ,deutzia crenata flore pleno produces double flowers1 white in the center1 and red in the outer leaves4 ,it is of a strong habit1 desires plenty of room to grow in1 and will often be seen over six feet high1 and when in flower is 8a thing of beauty40 ,all these species of ,deutzias are hardy1 but at the far north require a little protection in winter4 ,mahonia ,aquifolium is an elegant1 evergreen shrub4 ,its foliage is evergreen1 and of a dark rich purplish green4 ,its flowers are bright yellow1 and appear early in the spring4 ,the ,privet or ,prim is also desirable1 its foliage is attractive1 and its small clusters of white flowers add much to its beauty4 ,philadelphus inodorus1 or ,mock ,orange1 is a more delicate species of the ,syringa4 ,it bears large1 pure white flowers with rich yellow stamens1 along its slender stems1 covering the shrub with a wealth of bloom4 ,it will grow eight feet high1 and blossoms in ,june4 ,the ,wiegelas are well established favorites1 and deservedly so2 for their brightly colored flowers1 intermixed with the glossy green foliage1 produce a fine effect either in the flower bed or on the lawn4 ,wiegela nivea produces pure white flowers1 very beautiful for large bouquets and vases4 ,wiegela rosea bears apple-blossom colored flowers1 blending pink and white in a lovely intermingling4 ,wiegela alba has white flowers1 which change to a pale rose tint4 ,spiras are of a most numerous family4 ,the florists have cultivated them with great success1 and wherever the ,lilac and the ,syringa flourish they will grow and bloom in perfection4 ,their flowers are of various shades of color1 from pure white1 white tinged with pink1 yellowish white1 purple rose1 lilac1 pink1 etc4 ,spira salicifolia grows from two to five feet high2 is white1 tinted with rose1 and blooms in ,june and ,july4 ,spira opulifolia1 five to seven feet high2 white flowers1 with rosy tint4 ,spira ,reevesii1 one of the most beautiful of its family1 flowers in ,june in pure white clusters4 ,spira ,bella1 dwarf2 pink flowers4 ,spira ,japonica is also dwarf1 and bears feather plumes of white flowers in ,june4 ,tartarian ,honeysuckles are large shrubs of much beauty1 whether covered with their pink or white flowers1 or with scarlet berries4 ,they will grow from cuttings or seeds1 and require little care4 ,the two varieties planted together make a fine wall for a garden1 and serve as a protection from the north winds4 ,there are several shrubs which bear brightly-colored berries1 which make them conspicuous objects in garden or lawn2 so in making up a collection of shrubs we should not forget them4 ,euonymus1 or ,strawberry ,tree1 is very handsome1 with its purple flowers1 succeeded by brilliant scarlet berries curiously shaped1 which remain on the branches late into the ,autumn4 ,the ,burning ,bush is the common name for it in many localities4 ,a variety of this shrub or tree grows in most of the ,middle1 ,western and ,southern ,states4 ,euonymus atropurpureus1 or ,spindle ,tree1 is its proper title4 ,it is a very beautiful addition to every lawn4 ,the ,european ,burning ,bush is much inferior to our native variety4 ,the ,broad-,leaved ,burning ,bush is a native of ,austria2 its botanical name is ,euonymus latifolius1 and it is not commonly grown in this country1 but is very desirable4 ,the ,black ,alder bears berries of a flame-like scarlet1 close to its branches1 and is a beautiful shrub4 ,i have endeavored to mention a few of the flowering shrubs that will not fail to give satisfaction to all amateur gardeners4 ,many of them are old-time flowers1 which possess a charm to me1 as childish associations of delight linger about them1 and render them doubly dear4 ,the ,rhododendrons are extensively cultivated1 and greatly improved from those which grow wild in the ,middle ,states4 ,the ,english florists have brought these beautiful shrubs to the highest state of perfection4 ,the ,rose of ,sharon is one of the most beautiful foreign shrubs4 ,its blossoms are bell-shaped1 and of many mingled hues4 ,in ,syria1 ,judea and ,arabia it is a sacred flower1 and they have adopted it as the emblem of the ,resurrection4 ,the dried flower is placed by the inhabitants of ,judea in a vase of water beside the beds of the sick2 if it expands1 the omen is favorable1 but if not1 death is considered inevitable4 ,the ,yucca ,filamentosa1 rather a hardy herbaceous plant1 though a shrub1 is very ornamental and hardy1 its foliage resembling that of the ,aloe4 ,it blooms in ,august and ,september1 and the flower stem rises to the height of five or six feet1 surmounted with white1 bell-shaped flowers4 ,it grows well in common garden soil1 and is very desirable as a single plant on the lawn4 ,all of these shrubs are most agreeable additions to every flower garden1 but if you cannot find room for all1 be sure to select a few of them1 for no other plants will give you as large a supply of flowers with so little attention expended on them4 ,most of them will readily grow from cuttings1 all of them will layer easily1 and many of them increase by suckers from the roots4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,the ,,carnation1 ,,and ,,picotee ,,pinks4 8,ye are the ,scriptures of the earth1 ,sweet flowers1 fair and frail2 ,a sermon speaks in every bud1 ,that woos the summer gale40 ,the ,carnation has been cultivated from time immemorial in ,europe1 and from ,gerard1 the herbalist of ,queen ,elizabeth's time1 we learn some of its quaint old ,english names1 such as 8,sops in ,wine0 7very expressive of the variegated red and white flower71 8,pagaiants10 8,horseflesh10 8,blunkets10 etc4 ,the most common varieties of the ,carnation sprung from the ,clove ,gilliflower1 or ,clove ,pink1 and in former days was much used to distil ,clove ,gilliflower ,water1 which was in great repute as a restorative4 ,the florists divide them into three classes now--flakes1 bizarres and picotees4 ,the flakes1 on a pure yellow or white ground1 have only one color1 disposed in broad flashes or stripes1 and extending the length of the petal4 ,the bizarres1 on a pure white or yellow ground1 have two or more colors in irregular stripes of pink1 or scarlet and purple1 sometimes running from the base to the margin of the petal1 sometimes broken irregularly into spots4 ,the ,picotee was formerly spotted with purple1 red or scarlet spots1 on a white or yellow ground2 modern improvements have changed its character2 it is no longer a spotted carnation1 but one with the colorings confined to a bordering of each petal4 ,each of these three classes are sub-denominated1 according to their colors1 as scarlet-flake1 pink-flake1 scarlet-bizarre1 etc41 etc4 ,the stripes or spots in ,carnations are usually in shades of scarlet1 pink and purple1 on a white1 pink1 red or yellow ground4 ,the word 8,carnation0 is fully significant of the flesh-color which characterized the original and earlier cultivated varieties4 ,of all the flowers that adorn the garden1 whether they charm the eye by their beauty1 or regale the sense of smelling by their fragrance1 the ,carnation may justly rank next to the ,rose4 ,the ,flemish weavers1 who sought a refuge in ,england from the religious persecutions of ,philip ,,ii1 and the cruelty of the ,duke of ,alva1 were renowned for their ,carnations1 ,roses1 and ,gilliflowers1 and they introduced many of the rarest varieties of these flowers1 often superior to the specimens produced by professional gardeners4 ,mr4 ,hogg1 a celebrated florist1 and also a writer upon ,floriculture1 declares that 8it is not every gardener who knows how to grow a ,carnation1 and there is not one in ten whose assistance ,i would claim on the most pressing occasion1 and leave the operation of layering to them unlooked after2 whereas ,i would implicitly trust it to any weaver1 cobbler or barber who had had the least practice with his own flowers40 ,there is hardly any plant grown by florists to which they consider a congenial soil is of so much importance4 ,it should be composed of one-half rotten horse manure1 not less than a year old2 that which has been used in a hot-bed is just the article for composing the soil for ,carnations4 ,add to it one-third fresh loam1 and one-third coarse river sand4 ,if these ingredients are mixed together in the ,autumn1 and allowed to freeze1 and in the ,spring are thoroughly mixed up1 a good compost will be obtained4 ,those of our readers who live near a florist had better buy the compost for their plants4 ,large piles of it are always kept on hand1 and sold cheaply4 ,it is better to supply the soil for all pot plants in this way4 ,carnations are propagated by seed1 layers and cuttings4 ,the seed should be sown in ,april or ,may1 in pots filled with rich compost1 and a little fine sand1 barely sufficient to cover them1 sprinkled over the seeds4 ,as soon as the young plants are three inches high1 they should be planted out into a bed of rich soil4 ,they will not bloom until the following ,summer1 but the plants can be protected in cold climates by laying sods of grass over them1 or by keeping the plants in the cellar in boxes4 ,the best time to layer is when the plant is in full bloom1 which will be about the middle of ,july1 or according to the season4 ,the shoot to be layered may be four or five joints in length2 all the lower leaves next to the root must be stripped off1 leaving only those on the two or three upper joints4 ,the surface of the soil should be stirred up to the depth of an inch2 then take the shoot in the finger and thumb of the left hand1 and bend it upwards1 so that the knife can enter a quarter of an inch below the second or third joint from the top1 and on the side of the shoot next the ground2 cut upwards through the center of the joint1 slantingly for about half an inch4 ,now cut off the tip of the portion underneath close to the joint4 ,if it breaks off it is worthless as a layer1 so handle it very carefully1 and lay the shoot into the soil1 pegging it down with a large hair pin4 ,the root fibres are soonest formed when the joint is but lightly covered with earth1 not more than a quarter of an inch4 ,no more of the stem of the layer than just close to the joint1 nor any of the leaves should be buried in the soil1 for the dampness will cause them to decay1 and the whole layer will then damp off or decay4 ,when the layer is pegged down1 give it a gentle watering1 taking care not to wash off the soil4 ,it is of no consequence if the layer does not stand straight at first4 ,it will soon grow so4 ,if the plants are kept moist1 and well shaded from the noonday heat1 the layers will be rooted in three or four weeks4 ,they should then be cut away from the plant1 with about half an inch of the stem which connects them to it1 and planted in five-inch pots4 ,great care must be taken not to injure the tiny roots1 nor break the part of the stem above the incision4 ,in raising ,carnations from cuttings1 good healthy shoots should be selected1 and they should be treated as described for other cuttings4 ,layering and raising from cuttings are the surest modes of propagating fine varieties4 ,it is said that the chance of obtaining a good ,carnation from seed is one to a hundred4 ,the culture of the ,picotee1 or ,paisley ,pink1 is the same as that of the ,carnation4 ,the ,picotee is the hardier of the two1 and will endure the cold winters without covering1 excepting at the extreme north4 ,when the flower stems are ten or more inches high1 they should be supported with stakes1 and when the flowers appear1 if there is danger of their bursting the calyx1 and thus spoiling their symmetry1 it is well to tie a bit of colored worsted yarn about them2 this gives support1 and retains the leaves in place4 ,monthly ,carnations are the most desirable of all kinds1 as they bloom during the winter4 ,a select list of monthly varieties3-- ,admirable1 creamy white4 ,astoria1 yellow1 flaked with scarlet4 ,attraction1 white1 striped with maroon4 ,betsey1 brilliant scarlet4 ,blondin1 buff and rose4 ,d',fontana1 buff1 striped with cherry4 ,donadi's ,pride1 white1 edged with pink2 fine4 ,edwardsii1 pure white2 extra4 ,grant1 rich crimson1 striped with slate color4 ,grand ,conde1 white1 blotched with rose4 ,la ,purite1 bright rosy pink4 ,ma ,gloire1 sulphur yellow1 striped scarlet4 ,queen of ,whites1 purest white4 ,radetzky1 rose color with broad purple stripes4 ,star1 carmine1 splashed with white4 ,gen4 ,von ,moltke1 orange salmon1 flaked with scarlet4 ,rosaline1 bright buff1 blotched with crimson4 ,vaillante1 scarlet fringed1 dwarf1 profuse bloomer4 ,welcome1 brightest red1 perfect shape4 ,,chapter ,,xii ,,herbaceous ,,plants1 ,p,,onies1 ,,phloxes1 ,,chrysanthemums1 ,,delphiniums1 ,,and ,a ,,select ,,list ,,of ,,desirables4 8,there is a lesson in each flower1 ,a story in each stream and bower2 ,on every herb on which you tread ,are written words which1 rightly read1 ,will lead you from earth's fragrant sod1 ,to hope1 and holiness1 and ,god40 ,herbaceous ,plants are ,perennials1 which die down to the roots every winter1 but in the spring1 send up fresh stems and blossoms from the roots1 thereby furnishing the easiest means of adorning a garden4 ,they require but very little care1 as the most of them are hardy1 while others require a slight protection4 ,the soil should be kept in good order1 free from weeds1 and a yearly dressing of good compost will make them bloom luxuriantly1 and some species are so vigorous that they will continue to bloom annually1 even in a neglected grass sod4 ,many of them bloom early in the season1 as soon as the ,snowdrop4 ,crocus and ,hyacinth have passed away2 and by a judicious selection1 a profuse and gorgeous supply of flowers may be obtained from a bed of these plants1 until the garden is brilliant with the brightly tinted ,annuals1 etc4 ,a list of the most desirable of these plants will be given1 with their time of flowering2 but ,i must first call your attention to the ,herbaceous ,ponies1 which form a large family of most beautiful flowers1 some of which are indispensable in the smallest collection of plants4 ,herbaceous ,ponies4 ,the common red ,pony1 or1 as it is usually called in the old-fashioned parlance among those of an older generation1 ,piny1 used to grow in every country garden2 its large and brilliant red flowers rendering it very conspicuous1 and delighting all lovers of gorgeous colorings4 ,well do ,i remember the furore caused among amateur florists by the introduction of a white ,pony1 and every one must have a root of it1 to contrast with their fiery-red flowers4 ,then the fragrant pink variety was introduced and much admired2 and for many years no other novelty appeared in their ranks2 but the ,english and ,french florists were busily engaged in cultivating these flowers1 and now over one hundred varieties are given in the catalogues1 and described as distinct in shape1 hue1 time of flowering1 etc4 ,the ,pony is very showy when planted by itself1 yet when grown en masse1 the effect is truly magnificent4 ,the darkest shades should be arranged in the center of the bed1 and the colors shaded out to pure white2 thus planted1 a beautiful show can be obtained4 ,alba ,plenaia1 very double flower1 white4 ,whitleyi1 older variety1 very fragrant1 white with yellow center4 ,virginalis1 of the purest white4 ,baron ,rothschild1 flower large1 pale rose4 ,queen ,victoria1 rose color4 ,amabilis1 outer petals rose color1 and the inner a delicate1 creamy white4 ,festiva1 white1 shaded to carmine red in the center4 ,albicans ,plena1 rosy pink1 and blooms early and late4 ,maiden's ,blush1 fine and large1 bright pink4 ,duchesse d',orleans1 outside petals violet-rose1 and deep salmon buff at the center4 ,pomponia1 of a purplish pink1 with salmon colored center4 ,pattsii1 very rich1 darkest purplish crimson4 ,duchesse de ,nemours1 rosy lilac4 ,tenuifolia1 funnel-shaped leaves1 flowers deep crimson4 ,pompadoura1 dark crimson1 inner petals delicately cut4 ,rubra ,striata1 richest rosy crimson4 ,the ,moutan or ,tree ,ponies are very beautiful2 they are perfectly hardy1 excepting in northern ,new ,england1 where1 to bloom in perfection1 they should be covered with a barrel filled with leaves4 ,they do not die down to the roots every winter1 and are more properly called shrubs4 ,phloxes4 ,the beauty of these ,herbaceous ,plants is not fully appreciated4 ,they are perfectly hardy1 and their brilliant clusters of flowers1 comprising all colors from white to crimson and purple1 striped and mottled1 have few superiors among hardy plants4 ,they will thrive in almost any soil1 but enjoy fresh loam1 and new quarters every two or three years4 ,they increase rapidly from the roots1 will also grow easily from cuttings or layers4 ,select list of varieties3-- ,albert ,cameron1 large white flower1 with carmine eye4 ,alexandrine ,bellet de ,varenne1 carmine1 with scarlet center4 ,augustine ,lierval1 white1 pink center4 ,chloris1 vivid red4 ,countess of ,home1 white1 dark crimson center4 ,l',orientale1 amoranth1 large flower1 extra4 ,madame ,thaman1 rich carmine1 crimson center4 ,madame d',argent1 rose colored1 purple center4 ,madame ,henricq1 velvety rose1 carmine eye4 ,mademoiselle ,lemichez1 white1 scarlet center4 ,monsieur ,audry1 very bright red4 ,roi ,leopold1 striped rose and white1 very showy4 ,raphael1 rose1 crimson eye4 ,white ,lady1 new1 pure white1 with clusters of flowers six inches in diameter4 ,surpasse ,marie ,belanger1 large1 white1 purple eye4 ,chrysanthemums4 ,these come into bloom so late in the season that they are frequently called the 8,christmas flower02 and1 as they fill a place occupied by no other flower1 should therefore be cultivated in every garden4 ,they are most easily propagated from cuttings1 taken in ,august1 or from the shoots sent up from the roots after blooming4 ,they are very hardy excepting at the extreme north1 and can be wintered there under sods4 ,good specimens should have but one stem1 with short1 thick-set branches1 which may be made to grow by pinching off the end shoots1 thus encouraging the side branches4 ,they grow very vigorously in a rich light soil4 ,there are three varieties or species2 the large flowered1 most suitable for out-door culture2 the dwarf or ,pompone1 which blooms beautifully1 in-doors1 and their different colors will form a choice bouquet2 and the ,japan ,chrysanthemums4 ,all of these species are beautiful objects in the open garden in ,november and ,december4 ,large flowering varieties3-- ,boule d',or1 fine1 large1 golden yellow4 ,boule d',neige1 large1 pure white4 ,captivation1 light purple1 splendid4 ,erecta ,superba1 clear sulphur-yellow4 ,lord ,derby1 deep purple1 petals incurved4 ,guernsey ,nugget1 light yellow4 ,princess ,teck1 creamy white4 ,prince ,albert1 crimson1 red4 ,queen of ,england1 blush4 ,mount tna1 fiery crimson4 ,princess of ,wales1 purest white4 ,temple of ,solomon1 golden yellow4 ,pompone or ,liliputian ,chrysanthemums4 ,acton1 golden yellow4 ,countesse de ,mons1 pale rose4 ,iris1 white tipped with rose4 ,sinbad1 light crimson4 ,mad4 ,de ,soulangis1 pure rose4 ,trevenna1 purest white4 ,roi de ,liliput1 maroon4 ,theresita1 fine1 lilac4 ,ragozza1 yellow1 tipped with rose4 ,japan ,chrysanthemums4 ,these flowers are novelties1 from ,japan--with tasselled or quilled flowers4 ,laciniatus1 is creamy white1 fine for bouquets and vases4 ,mons4 ,bonnet1 amber1 fine large flowers4 ,these plants are of an elegant appearance1 and by pinching off the first flower buds1 can be made to bloom in ,january and ,february4 ,delphiniums1 or ,hardy ,perennial ,larkspurs1 ,are among the finest of this class of plants1 and if the seed-pods are cut off1 will continue in flower from ,july to ,november4 ,they will also flower the first year if sown early in hot-bed1 and are very desirable for late blooming4 ,they grow readily from seed or from the increase of the root4 ,the shades of blue are unsurpassed by any other flower of similar color4 ,delphinium ,formosum is of the brightest blue with a white center4 ,d4 ,mons4 ,neuner1 pale blue4 ,d4 ,chinensi ,pumilum1 azure blue4 ,d4 ,alba1 paper white4 ,d4 ,belladonna1 finest sky blue4 ,a list of ,herbaceous ,plants that will give a succession of flowers4 ,achillea ,millefolium ,rubrum1 deep red1 one foot high1 blooms from ,june to ,september4 ,achillea ,ptarmica ,plena1 pure white double flowers1 in bloom from ,july to ,october4 ,aconitum ,napellus 7,monkshood71 dark blue2 four to six feet2 ,june to ,august4 ,aconitum ,versicolor1 variegated1 blue and white2 three to five feet2 ,july to ,august4 ,arabis ,alpina1 pure white flowers1 eight inches2 ,may4 ,asclepias tuberosa1 orange colored flowers2 two feet2 ,july4 ,amsonia salicifolia1 lavender blue1 in clusters2 three feet2 ,june4 ,anemone ,japonica1 purplish rose2 eighteen inches2 ,september4 ,aquilegia jocunda 7,columbine71 dark blue1 white center2 two feet2 ,june4 ,aquilegia striata1 striped1 blue and white4 ,aquilegia ,sibirica1 dark bluish-black flowers1 very double2 one foot2 ,june4 ,baptisia cerulea1 brightest blue2 two feet2 ,june4 ,baptisia alba1 flowers pure white2 two feet2 ,june4 ,bocconia cordata1 very showy1 large foliage1 spikes of whitish flowers2 six to eight feet2 ,july4 ,callirrhoe involucrata1 trailing plant with bright crimson flowers2 ,june4 ,hollyhocks1 very double flowers1 all colors2 ,july to ,october4 ,lupinus polyphyllus1 flowers of various colors1 from pure white to the darkest purple2 two to three feet2 ,july4 ,lychnis albo pleno1 double1 white2 a foot and a half high2 ,may and ,june4 ,lychnis ,chalcedonica pleno1 double1 scarlet2 two to three feet2 ,june and ,july4 ,lychnis ,haagena1 all colors from white to scarlet4 ,orobus vernus1 reddish purple2 one foot2 ,april and ,may4 ,papaver ,orientale1 brilliant scarlet flowers2 three feet2 ,june and ,july4 ,penstemon grandiflora2 there are many varieties from the ,prairies2 three feet2 ,june4 ,phalangium ,liliago1 flowers pure white1 in loose spikes1 elegant2 two to three feet2 ,july4 ,saxifraga crassifolia1 deep pink1 in large clusters2 six inches2 blooms early in ,april4 ,scutellaria ,japonica1 deep purplish blue2 eight inches2 ,july4 ,lamium ,maculatum album et ,rubrum1 flowers in short round spikes1 red and white2 ,june4 ,zauschneria ,californica1 flowers of a bright scarlet1 blossoms in ,july2 hardy in middle ,states4 ,the varieties of the ,funkia1 or ,day ,lily1 should not be omitted4 ,the common variety is of a rare fragrance1 and its flowers are produced in large clusters2 only two or three of the pure white lilies opening at once4 ,it is perfectly hardy in all climates4 ,the variegated species has blueish-white flowers without the delicious odor of the white variety4 ,its leaves are prettily variegated1 and are its chief attraction4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,immortelles1 ,,or ,,everlasting ,,flowers1 ,,and ,,ornamental ,,grasses4 8,there is religion in a flower3 ,its still small voice is as the voice of conscience4 ,mountains and oceans1 planets1 suns and systems1 ,bear not the impress of ,almighty power ,in characters more legible than those ,which ,he hath written on the tiniest flower ,whose light bell bends beneath the dew-drop's weight40 ,no collection of flowers is complete without some few varieties of ,immortelles1 or ,everlasting ,flowers4 ,when ice and snow abound1 they serve to brighten our in-door surroundings4 ,mingled with dried grasses and branches of ,arbor ,vit1 or some other evergreen1 they make good substitutes for their more delicate sisters who are faded and gone4 ,my sitting room is always adorned1 in the wintry season1 with vases of these bright flowers1 which retain their places until forced to yield them to the fragile flowers of the early spring4 ,so in ordering your seeds1 don't forget to write down an assortment of these flowers1 whose beauty is not evanescent4 ,they are invaluable decorations for home and church1 and can be made into crowns1 crosses and bouquets4 ,their flowers should be gathered while in the bud2 if allowed to expand1 they will not be as handsome when dried4 ,the stems should be tied together1 and the bunches hung up in a dark1 dry closet1 taking care not to tie them up in too large quantities1 to dry quickly1 else they may mildew or mould4 ,when well dried1 put away in boxes until desired for use4 ,to save seeds from them1 it is best to let the first blossoms remain uncut1 and mature4 ,when ripe1 cut them off1 and preserve until another season4 ,these plants will grow in any common garden soil4 ,they are not particularly ornamental1 as their flowers are kept well cut off1 and it is better to plant a bed of them among the vegetables1 or in some out-of-the-way corner1 as they will not add to the beauty of your flower beds or lawns4 ,in the large cities1 quite a trade is carried on in the way of these flowers1 and thousands of them are yearly imported to supply the demand for crowns and crosses for the decoration of the cemeteries4 ,at all seasons of the year they are appropriate there1 for neither rain nor sun injures them1 when well dried2 while they1 in their unfading brightness1 fully corroborate their claims to the title of ,immortelles4 ,the florists' catalogues offer us a good variety to select from1 and at the head of the list stand the ,acrocliniums--perhaps not quite as beautiful as ,rhodanthe ,manglesii1 but easier of cultivation1 as they are quite hardy1 and not as delicate in habit4 ,they grow a foot high1 and are of two kinds--a bright rose color1 and pure white--each with a yellow center4 ,the flowers are fragile enough to pass for 8artificials10 and they have been used in decorating ladies' hats1 with good effect4 ,vases filled with them1 and mingled with animated oats and grasses1 are very ornamental4 ,no garden should be without them4 ,ammobium alatum is a white flower1 which is very pretty in arranging memorial wreaths or crosses4 ,globe ,amaranth1 or ,gomphrena is commonly cultivated4 ,it is found in shades from a bright orange to a purplish crimson1 and pure white4 ,the flowers should be gathered as soon as the colors are well developed4 ,helichrysums are very desirable4 ,they are in all varieties of color1 from the brightest yellow1 the purest white1 to the richest shades of red4 ,the minimum1 or dwarf species1 are the prettiest for wreaths1 etc4 ,be sure to cut the buds1 and they will dry into perfect flowers4 ,helipterum ,sanfordi is a later importation4 ,its flowers are of a bright golden yellow1 and grow in small clusters of fine flowers1 making an agreeable variety4 ,another kind produces snowy white flowers4 ,rhodanthe is a charming everlasting4 ,its bright1 bell shaped flowers and graceful habit make it an addition to the flower beds1 as well as for winter decorations4 ,there are four varieties4 ,rhodanthe alba is of silvery whiteness1 and the finest white ,immortelle grown4 ,rhodanthe atrosanguinea has dark crimson flowers1 with a violet disc or center4 ,rhodanthe ,maculata has larger blossoms of a bright rose color1 tinged with violet purple1 with a yellow center4 ,it is a fine plant for window gardening4 ,rhodanthe ,manglesii is the oldest variety4 ,its blossoms are rose colored1 suffused with white4 ,all these flowers are the most desirable of their kind4 ,the silvery scales on the outside of the flower contrast charmingly with the brighter colors of the petals4 ,waitzia aurea and grandiflora have flowers of a brilliant gold color1 and produce a fine effect1 when mingled with others4 ,they bloom in clusters1 and if left too long on the plant1 become dingy and discolored4 ,xeranthemums are very easily cultivated4 ,the seeds vegetate as quickly as those of the ,aster or ,balsam4 ,they are of various colors1 and grow about one foot high1 blooming very freely4 ,all of these plants require some space to grow in1 and the plants must be transplanted at least a foot apart to bloom advantageously4 ,these ,everlasting ,flowers can be dyed into various colors4 ,last autumn some bright yellow ,helichrysums fell into a solution of borax1 and turned their petals to the most glorious sunset hue1 with a fine metallic lustre4 ,it oxydized the color1 and my vases are still resplendent with the flowers4 ,i tried its effect upon crimson and pink flowers1 but it failed to beautify them1 but faded out all their original brightness4 ,the yellow flowers are of a wonderful golden-scarlet hue1 rarely seen in any flower that grows4 ,dip the flowers into a cup of water into which as much borax as will dissolve has been added1 and see for yourself the perfect shade of color4 ,family dyes can be used to dye purple1 scarlet and green1 and mosses can be thus prepared to arrange among the bright-hued flowers1 making prettier objects for home adornment than can be purchased at the shops4 ,purple dye can be made at home from one ounce of ground logwood1 one tablespoonful of powdered alum1 and one pint of soft water2 boil for twenty minutes2 when cool1 put in the flowers4 ,yellow dye can be made with one ounce of quercitron bark2 same proportions of alum and water as above2 boil twenty minutes4 ,mix indigo with the yellow dye1 and a beautiful green is formed1 which will dye mosses or grasses perfectly4 ,ornamental ,grasses4 ,the varieties of grasses are almost innumerable4 ,there are already known and described three thousand species in the world1 and in ,america alone there are six hundred4 ,on a small bit of turf1 not a foot square1 you may often find five or six different kinds4 ,our prairies abound in numerous varieties--some radiated1 and variegated purple and green1 like the peacock's plumage--others pinnated and feathery1 as the marabout's plume2 but all exceedingly beautiful6 ,the ,durva grass of the ,hindoos is one of the most perfect that is known4 ,sir ,william ,jones remarks that3-- 8,the flowers in their perfect state afford the loveliest object in creation2 and when examined with a microscope1 they resemble emeralds and rubies trembling in the slightest breath of air4 ,nor is the ,durva less esteemed for its valuable qualities4 ,it affords the sweetest and most nutritious pasturage for cattle2 and its usefulness and beauty induced the ,hindoos1 even in the earliest ages1 to believe that it was the dwelling place of a presiding and benevolent nymph1 who loved to listen to the cropping of dewy herbage by flocks and herds in meadows1 and beside clear streams4 ,poets feigned that looking forth from her diverging spike1 adorned with purple flowers and ranged in two close1 alternate rows1 wherever she presided blights and mildews were unknown1 and that the air was loaded with fragrance1 as if from bowers of balm1 although neither roses1 citrons1 richly scented magnolias1 nor orange trees grew contiguous40 ,the ,veda celebrates this inimitable grass in the following sentence of the ,a4 ,e4 harvana3-- 8,may the ,durva1 which arose from the waters of life1 and which hath a hundred roots and a hundred stems1 prolong my existence on earth for a hundred years40 ,linnus kneeled beside the northern holy grass1 and thanked the ,lord for having made it4 ,paley1 the great moralist1 loved the grasses1 and delighted in the inspection of their tiny florets4 ,and ,christ taught us a lesson of faith from them1 saying3-- 8,wherefore1 if ,god so clothe the grass of the field1 which to-day is1 and to-morrow is cast into the oven2 shall ,he not much more clothe you1 ,o ye of little faith80 ,by grasses are meant all those plants which have a round1 jointed1 and hollow stem1 surrounded at each joint with a single leaf1 long1 narrow and pointed1 and whose seeds are contained in chaffy husks4 ,this numerous family embraces even the tall ,bamboo of ,india and the tropical climates1 which affords building material for houses1 furniture and carriages1 and yet is brother to the meadow fox-tail grass4 ,the ,ornamental ,grasses are attracting more attention every year1 and they are especially adapted to planting en masse1 or in single beds on the lawn4 ,they are easily grown from seeds1 which cost but a trifle4 ,the perennial kinds are more desirable on account of their permanency2 but there are many annual and biennial species well worthy of cultivation1 even in the smallest garden4 ,they add much to the attractiveness of bouquet or vase1 and are truly numbered among the indispensables4 ,andropogon ,argenteum has silvery colored leaves and plumes of flowers2 is quite hardy1 grows four feet high1 and is raised either from seeds or the division of its roots4 ,andropogon bombycinus is a lovely novelty2 with plumes covered with silky hairs of a metallic whiteness4 ,it is a hardy perennial from ,persia1 growing one foot high4 ,arundo donax versicolor has striped foliage1 and is one of the most beautiful of grasses4 ,it is not quite hardy1 but should be covered with sods1 or placed in a dry cellar during winter4 ,chloropsis ,blanchardia is a very elegant species1 with rose colored spikes4 ,it is also tender1 requires protection in a northern climate4 ,bromus brizformis is a hardy species1 with drooping panicles2 grows one foot high4 ,chascolytrum erectum is also hardy1 and very ornamental2 is a native of ,chili2 grows eighteen inches4 ,chloris myriostachies is a new variety1 with velvety flower heads2 hardy2 grows three feet4 ,cyperus ,paramatta belongs to the sedge family1 and is very attractive4 ,erianthus ,ravennal is one of the most desirable species cultivated4 ,it is quite hardy1 and forms large clumps from which the stems rise to the height of ten to twelve feet1 and are crowned with silvery plumes of twenty inches in length4 ,a clump of this beautiful grass in full bloom1 is an object of universal admiration4 ,its flowers are pure white1 with a silvery lustre4 ,gynerium argenteum 7,pampas grass71 is truly the 8,queen of ,ornamental ,grasses40 ,it must be seen to be appreciated4 ,it is tender in the northern ,states1 but its roots can be kept in boxes in the cellar during winter4 ,panicum capilaceum is hardy1 and very rich in foliage of rosy hue4 ,pepragmites communis grows commonly along the banks of our northern rivers1 but it is beautiful1 and deserves a place among its foreign brethren4 ,its spikes of flowers are covered with long1 white1 silky hairs4 ,stipa pennata 7,feather grass71 is very ornamental1 the seeds vegetate slowly1 and should be started under glass4 ,trypsacum dactyloides is a very handsome and hardy grass4 ,among the annual varieties ,i should select-- ,agrostis retrafracta1 an extremely graceful species2 a great addition to bouquets and vases4 ,agrostis ,steveni1 with beautiful1 feathery panicles4 ,avena sterilis 7,animated ,oats71 with large drooping spikes of flowers4 ,briza maxima 7,quaking grass71 very beautiful4 ,briza geniculata1 dwarf habit2 very graceful4 ,chloris radiata1 a curious variety2 very desirable4 ,chloris truncata1 silvery plumes4 ,eleusine barcinonensis1 a novelty with out-spreading plumes of flowers2 lovely for house culture4 ,hordeum jubatum 7,squirrel-tail grass71 lovely green and purplish plumes4 ,lagurus ovatus 7,hare's-tail grass71 very pleasing4 ,panicum variegatum1 one of the most graceful and ornamental plants for baskets or vases4 ,paspalum elegans1 white flower4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,ornamental ,,foliaged ,,plants4 8,oh6 who that has an eye to see1 ,a heart to feel1 a tongue to bless1 ,can ever undelighted be1 ,with nature's magic loveliness40 ,variegated leaved plants are quite the fashion at this time1 and are becoming more popular every year4 ,they produce a fine effect when planted in oval or circular beds4 ,the furore for these plants has produced a great variety2 the whole world has been searched for rare specimens1 and these have been hybridized1 and greatly improved4 ,a bed of them1 well arranged as to color1 is a most gorgeous sight1 equal to any display of flowers4 ,a recent writer speaks of them thus3-- 8,do not these curious plants1 that among their leaves of light have no need of flowers1 resemble those rare human plants that develop all the beauties of mind and character at an exceptionally early age1 and rapidly ripen for the tomb8 ,they do not live to bring forth the flowers and fruits of life's vigorous prime1 and therefore ,god converts their foliage into leaves1 crowns the initial stage with the glories of the final1 and makes their very leaves beautiful4 ,by the transfiguration of ,his grace1 by the light that never was on sea or land1 ,he adorns even their tender years with all the loveliness which in other cases comes only with full maturity40 ,a very pretty bed of ,ornamental ,plants can be sown from seed4 ,in the center1 plant the ,striped-leaved ,japanese ,corn4 ,a foot from it on all sides1 sow seeds of the ,cannas2 soak the seeds in boiling water for an hour1 and pour boiling water on the ground after the seeds are planted4 ,if planted about the #ajth of ,may1 they will grow finely4 ,for the next row1 sow ,amaranthus melancholicus1 and thin out the plants a foot apart4 ,next to these put the ,silvery-leaved ,cineraria maritima2 and border the whole with ,perilla ,nankinensis4 ,a row of white ,candytuft could come after the ,perilla1 but it must be pulled up as soon as its flowers are past1 or it will destroy the beauty of the bed4 ,such a bed could be obtained at a slight expense1 not exceeding one dollar2 while for a bed of ,coleus--,achyranthus1 ,caladiums1 ,cineraria ,acanthifolia1 ,alternantheras1 ,centaureas and ,gnaphalium1 sixty to seventy-five dollars is often paid4 ,of course1 a bed of the latter description is far more recherche than one of the former2 but only those whom ,fortune has favored1 can possess it2 while you and ,i can delight our eyes daily with the bed of our own planting from seeds4 ,coleus4 ,these plants take first rank among variegated plants4 ,coleus ,verschaffeltii1 with rich crimson leaves1 veined with bronze and margined with green1 was considered a rare wonder2 but the ,golden ,coleus far surpass the early varieties4 ,the ,american and ,english florists have been very successful with these lovely plants4 ,they offer us this year3-- ,beauty of ,widmore1 olive green1 stained with pink1 white edge4 ,eclat1 bronzy crimson1 golden edge4 ,acis1 crimson1 shaded carmine1 golden edge4 ,brilliant1 bronzy crimson1 broad golden margin4 ,model1 pinkish bronze1 narrow golden border4 ,princess ,louise1 reddish bronze1 light yellow edge4 ,golden ,beauty1 dark crimson1 wavy and golden1 fringed edge4 ,setting ,sun1 rich bronze center1 bright yellow edge4 ,sunbeam1 bronzy crimson1 dark veins1 yellow margin4 ,unique1 reddish crimson1 deep golden border4 ,of the older kinds the most noted are3-- ,albert ,victor1 center purplish red1 broad yellow margin4 ,her ,majesty1 bronzy red center1 greenish yellow margin4 ,princess ,royal1 center reddish bronze1 light yellow margin4 ,all of these make fine bedding-out plants2 will grow in any rich sandy loam2 they are very tender1 the first frost blackens their beauty2 and they require much heat in the winter4 ,a slight chill is death to them4 ,i had fine plants of several kinds last winter1 but a cold night in ,december killed every one2 green-house culture is needful for them4 ,achyranthus4 ,these plants rank next to the ,coleus in richness of coloring1 and beauty of veining4 ,a4 ,acuminata has dark red leaves1 marked with a salmon-red midrib1 and light crimson under-surface4 ,it contrasts charmingly with silvery-leaved plants4 ,aureus ,reticulatus has light green foliage1 veined with yellow2 stems crimson1 very effective4 ,achyranthus ,lindenii is of a bushy growth1 foliage rich1 deep crimson4 ,all of these are very tender1 but make good house plants during the winter4 ,alternantheras4 ,these are dwarf plants from ,brazil1 with leaves tinted with crimson1 pink1 brown and green4 ,a4 ,amna1 crimson shaded to pink1 and amber brown4 ,a4 ,amabilis1 orange1 crimson and dark green4 ,a4 ,leatifolia1 foliage large1 green1 orange and crimson4 ,a4 ,versicolor1 olive1 crimson and chocolate4 ,these varieties are all used for edgings1 and if they are closely cut1 the fresh growth assumes most brilliant hues4 ,they will not outlive our cold winters without protection4 ,caladiums4 ,one of the most beautiful of the ,ornamental ,foliaged ,plants for planting on the lawn1 or as a center for oval or circular beds4 ,they will grow five feet high1 with immense leaves of a light green color1 beautifully veined with various colors4 ,they are bulbous roots1 and must be taken up with the first frosts4 ,the bulbs should be kept in sand in a dry temperature1 not below #ej4 ,caladium ,chatini1 green ground1 red and white spots4 ,duc de ,nassau1 clear red leaf1 beautifully shaded4 ,emperor ,napoleon1 brilliant crimson1 with rich blood-red ribs4 ,c4 ,houlletii1 spotted and veined1 with various shades of green4 ,madame ,houllet1 pink spots towards the center1 with white spots on the margin4 ,c4 ,sedeni1 clouded1 green and rose4 ,c4 ,splendens1 rich crimson1 shaded to a green margin4 ,c4 ,verschaffeltii1 green ground1 with pink spots4 ,the oldest and best known variety is the ,caladium ,esculeatum1 the leaves are of immense size1 often two feet long and six inches broad4 ,it will thrive when the other tender varieties fail4 ,begonias4 ,this class are remarkable for the diversity of their markings1 and their rich crimson stems and edgings4 ,some of the leaves are of an immense size1 with broad silvery zones and snowy spots1 which contrast perfectly with the rich crimson-tinted1 emerald-hued leaves4 ,begonia ,rex was the first variety2 from it have sprung many rare kinds4 ,begonia ,hybrida ,multiflora is valuable1 especially for flowering during the winter months1 blooming almost continually2 has small ovate1 glossy leaves1 and a profusion of gracefully drooping racemes of rosy pink blossoms4 ,cannas4 ,these are highly ornamental and effective2 their broad1 bright-hued leaves resemble those of the ,banana2 and their flowers are produced in racemes of scarlet1 crimson1 orange-red1 and buff4 ,they are tender1 and must be removed to a dry cellar as soon as the frost comes4 ,in spring start them in boxes1 or in a warm climate1 in the open border4 ,they are grown from seed1 as directed in this chapter2 but one is not certain of procuring the best varieties4 ,the bulbs can always be purchased at the florists at a small price4 ,atropurpurea has fine dark leaves1 with orange-scarlet flowers4 ,insignis1 leaves banded and rayed with purples2 flowers reddish-orange4 ,premices de ,nice1 large foliage1 bright yellow flowers1 spotted with salmon4 ,rubra ,superbissima1 stalks crimson1 leaves red1 with a metallic shade1 flowers clear orange-red4 ,nigricans1 leaves green with a dark bronze shade1 flowers bright vermillion4 ,ne plus ultra1 leaves rich purple1 flowers crimson-scarlet4 ,musfolia1 foliage large and handsome4 ,silver ,foliage ,plants ,are very desirable to plant in rows with the brightly hued ,coleus1 ,achyranthus1 etc4 ,artemisia ,stelleriana is a pretty dwarf plant4 ,cineraria ,acanthifolia has velvety white leaves1 and is the most desirable of its kind4 ,centaurea ,gymnocarpa1 very elegant1 silvery leaves1 with narrow1 pointed lobes4 ,centaurea ,candidissima has snowy white leaves1 with a frosted appearance4 ,centaurea ,clementei surpasses all its family in the elegance of its foliage4 ,its young leaves are like velvet1 and1 when fully developed1 retain a silvery effect4 ,gnaphalium ,lanatum is of a dwarf1 creeping habit1 very desirable as a bordering4 ,gnaphalium ,tomentosum has long1 narrow1 silvery foliage4 ,glaucium ,corniculatum has long1 velvety leaves1 of a silvery white hue2 leaves deeply pinnated2 flowers of bell shape1 orange yellow4 ,it is a novelty introduced last season1 and is much admired4 ,achyrocline ,saundersonii is dwarf and densely branched1 with pure white leaves4 ,coprosma ,baneriana ,variegata1 a fine dwarf plant1 with green oval leaves1 flecked and veined with yellow2 is a novelty from ,new ,zealand4 ,sinclairea ,discolor has large1 oval leaves1 bright green on the upper side1 but lined with a downy1 snowy whiteness1 producing a fine effect4 ,wigandia ,caraccasana is a stately1 ornamental plant1 whose large1 bright green leaves are covered with hairy spines4 ,its flowers are of rich purple1 borne on a large spike4 ,fittonia ,argyroneura is lovely for vases1 hanging baskets1 or ferneries4 ,its leaves are of bright green1 netted with pearly white veins4 ,acorus ,gramineus ,variegata is also desirable for baskets1 etc4 ,its narrow1 grass-like leaves are margined with bright yellow4 ,panicum ,variegatum is also a grass1 striped with white and rose2 will grow two or three feet in a season2 is very elegant4 ,abutilon ,thompsonii is a prettily variegated shrub1 with leaves marbled with yellow4 ,sedum ,carneum ,variegatum is of dwarf growth1 with lance-shaped green leaves1 margined with white4 ,beautiful for rock work1 but will not endure the winter of the ,northern ,states4 ,i cannot close a chapter on ,variegated ,plants1 without mention of the ,golden ,bronze and the ,silver ,margined ,geraniums4 ,this class form most beautiful groups or beds1 very effective either on the lawn or in the garden4 ,mrs4 ,pollock is one of the best known of these varieties1 but ,lady ,cullum surpasses it in the beauty of its zone4 ,sir ,robert ,napier is said to possess the handsomest coloring of all4 ,its zone is deeply indented with brilliant scarlet2 flowers flesh colored4 ,sophie ,dumaresque has a dark crimson zone1 with broad yellow margin4 ,black ,prince1 dark bronze zone1 on a yellow ground4 ,beauty of ,oulton1 broad yellow leaf1 with a wide bronze zone4 ,bronze ,queen1 yellowish bronze1 with a dark chocolate zone2 contrasts perfectly with the silver-edged varieties4 ,southern ,belle1 golden yellow ground1 brilliant crimson zone4 ,e4 ,g4 ,henderson1 light yellow ground1 fine dark bronzy zone4 ,beauty of ,calderdale1 reddish brown zone on a golden green ground4 ,crystal ,palace ,gem1 golden margin1 green center4 ,perilla1 broad dark zone4 ,queen ,victoria1 rich maroon zone1 golden yellow margin4 ,silver ,margined ,geraniums4 ,cherub1 silver margined1 carmine zone1 dwarf4 ,burning ,bush1 sulphur white1 with bronze zone of rosy crimson tint4 ,beauty of ,guestwick1 zone bronze and rosy carmine1 creamy white margin4 ,castlemilk1 pea-green center1 well defined white edge1 the whitest of its class4 ,countess of ,warwick1 broad white margin1 zone dark bronze1 banded with pink4 ,may ,queen1 fine broad silver edge4 ,kenilworth1 white margin1 rich crimson zone4 ,mt4 of ,snow1 pure white1 broad edge4 ,rainbow1 silvery white margin1 red zone4 ,snow ,storm1 fine white edge4 ,italia ,unita1 silver edge1 dark zone shaded to carmine4 ,little ,pet1 pink zone1 silver edge4 ,snow ,drop1 fine silvery white edge4 ,perfection1 broad white margin1 fine4 ,variegated ,ivy-,leaved ,geraniums4 ,these flowers are very lovely1 from their drooping growth1 for vases1 rustic baskets and rock work4 ,they grow readily from slips1 are quite tender1 and must be housed during the winter months4 ,l',elegante has deep pea-green leaves1 with a clear white margin running into pink4 ,its flowers are pure white1 borne in large clusters4 ,it is unsurpassed for ornamental purposes1 where vines are required4 ,duke of ,edinburgh is beautifully variegated1 and of very vigorous growth4 ,holly ,wreath has leaves of deep green1 with a creamy margin1 white flowers4 ,peltatum ,floribunda1 leaves bright glossy green1 flowers of a rosy pink4 ,fairy ,bells1 rich green leaves1 flowers a light blush4 ,elegans1 bright rich foliage1 mauve colored flowers4 ,all these ,variegated ,geraniums grow readily from cuttings1 and will bloom in almost any common garden soil4 ,they show their bright markings at better advantage if located so that they are shaded from the heat of the noonday sun4 ,planted together1 en masse1 they produce a gorgeous effect4 ,all of them have brilliant colored flowers1 but they are not as large and handsome as those of the ,zonale tribe4 ,if planted on a graduated mound1 with a tall ,zonale or ,double ,geranium for the apex1 they show in perfect contrast4 ,they require watering at night1 if the season is hot and dry4 ,they can be wintered in a warm window1 or placed in sandy soil1 in boxes1 and kept in a frost-proof cellar4 ,of course the leaves will fall1 but the roots will remain alive1 and will not require water more than once or twice all winter1 unless they are kept in a warm place near the furnace fire2 but this is not a good location for them2 far better to keep them in a cool1 dark cellar1 where vegetation can sleep quietly4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,spring ,,flowering ,,bulbs4 8,odors of spring1 my senses ye charm6 ,methinks with purpose soft ye come1 ,to tell of brighter hours2 ,of ,may's blue skies1 abundant bloom1 ,and sunny gales and showers40 ,in ,october and ,november we must plant the ,spring ,flowering ,bulbs1 which are the first flowers in the spring that gladden our eyes4 ,as soon as the sun's rays have strength enough to pierce the stony ground1 they send up their leaves closely sheathed together to withstand the icy touch of the north wind4 ,with the first sweet whistle of the robin1 and the clear treble notes of the blue bird1 they stand ready to burst forth into gorgeous splendor4 ,the pearly white ,snowdrop1 white as the snow-drift which has nourished her buds1 is the pale leader of the gloriously clad procession which follows the spring's footsteps4 ,clusters of these roots can be planted among the grass nearest the house1 and early in ,march and ,april they will appear in full bloom4 ,they will grow in any soil2 but will run out if new homes are not provided for them every three or four years4 ,they multiply rapidly4 ,the great ,snowdrop is double the size of the common kind1 but does not blossom so early4 ,the small sorts can be planted an inch apart and two inches deep1 but the larger kinds should be planted five inches asunder1 and four inches in depth4 ,the ,crocus ,comes next in order1 clothed in purple1 yellow and white1 lilac and blue2 striped and plain2 cloth of gold and cloth of silver4 ,they are of easy culture1 and increase rapidly by offsets2 they can remain in the ground three years1 but may be taken up every year1 when their leaves have become yellow4 ,october is the best season for replanting them1 but ,november will do in warm climates4 ,they should be planted two inches deep1 and an inch or two apart4 ,the new varieties are raised from seed4 ,these bulbs are perfectly hardy1 but will come forward better in the spring1 if the ground is covered with a bed of leaves or evergreen boughs4 ,among the new varieties are3-- ,albion1 blue1 striped with white4 ,caroline ,chisholm1 purest white4 ,cloth of ,gold1 yellow1 striped with black4 ,cloth of ,silver1 white1 striped with purple4 ,david ,rizzio1 dark purple4 ,elise1 light shaded4 ,ivanhoe1 blue and white4 ,ne plus ultra1 blue bordered4 ,miss ,nightingale1 light striped4 ,queen ,victoria1 pure white4 ,scotch1 yellow1 with purple stripes4 ,sir ,walter ,scott1 pencilled lilac4 ,van ,speyk1 violet striped4 ,the ,hyacinth4 ,this plant1 though a native of the desert1 has been domesticated for many centuries1 and is aptly styled the 8,domestic ,flower10 for it is dearly loved in many homes4 ,haarlem is the great focus of bulbous cultivation2 its soil consists of light vegetable mould mixed with sand1 and under this is a substrata of sand which drains off the heavy spring rains4 ,florists of other countries have imitated this soil1 thereby producing as fine bulbs as can be raised in ,holland4 ,all new varieties are raised from seeds1 but much care and patience are required1 and often not more than six fine flowers will be found in a thousand seedlings2 so it is the best to content ourselves with raising them from the bulbs1 which multiply rapidly by offsets1 which should be planted out by themselves1 in a dry1 sunny location2 if they attempt to flower the first spring1 pick off the buds1 for the root needs all its strength2 but the next spring they will flower well1 and after that can be treated like grown-up bulbs4 ,if the beds in which the ,hyacinths and other bulbs have flowered are needed before the roots have fully matured1 they can be taken up and laid in ridges1 covering the roots with sandy earth1 but leaving the stems and leaves fully exposed to the air2 they will soon decay1 and the bulbs will swell to full maturity4 ,if the ground is not required for other plants1 the beds can remain for two or three years undisturbed1 but larger flowers are produced by yearly transplantings4 ,the seed-pods should be broken off before they have had time to develop1 as ripening the seed would tend to exhaust the strength of the bulb1 but the leaves are needful to prepare the pulp for maturing the bulb for another season2 therefore they must not be cut off until they are wholly dried up4 ,when quite dry1 separate the offsets1 and place by themselves in paper bags or boxes1 and keep in a dark1 dry closet1 until time to replant them4 ,their roots will strike through a mellow soil1 from ten to even twelve inches2 therefore to raise the finest blossoms1 the soil should be removed at least one foot in depth1 and the earth well broken up2 then spread over it a layer of three or four inches of leaf mould1 well mixed with sand1 and fill up with a compost of one-third well-rotted cow manure1 and two-thirds sandy loam1 well mingled4 ,if the soil under the pine trees of the woods can be obtained1 you will make your bulbs blossom in perfection2 it is a dark1 sandy loam1 excellently fitted for flowering all bulbs4 ,scouring sand1 which can be found in nearly every kitchen1 is very useful in planting bulbs2 put a table-spoonful into each hole1 and set the bulb upon it4 ,plant in concentric circles1 straight rows1 or clusters1 and cover the largest sized bulbs1 at least three to four inches4 ,a liberal top dressing of sand will draw the sun's rays early in the season4 ,as soon as the ground freezes hard1 cover the beds with four or five inches of straw1 leaves1 or coarse stable litter2 but don't cover them too early1 else the ground mouse may burrow in the warm bed1 and feed upon your bulbs4 ,as soon as the green sheathed leaves appear1 remove part of the covering1 and press the earth tightly around the bulbs1 else they will crack the earth1 and let the chilling winds into the roots4 ,in ten days or a fortnight1 if the weather is warm1 remove all the coverings4 ,the florists' catalogues are issued every autumn1 and offer us a large variety of roots with high-sounding names4 ,in the selection of bulbs1 choose those that are compact1 solid1 and firm at the base of the root4 ,the double varieties are usually the most desirable for out-door culture1 and they will often cover at least half of the stem with lovely bells1 forming a compact cone1 terminated at the top by an upright flower4 ,the single varieties are better for window gardening1 and some of them are indispensable to every collection4 ,a bed of ,hyacinths in full bloom is a glory and a joy1 but in planting them due deference must be paid to their height1 and time of blooming1 or the whole effect may be spoiled2 and some catalogues properly mention1 not only the names1 but the seasons and height of the flowers4 ,a select list of double and single varieties3-- ,double1 ,dark and ,light ,blue4 ,albion1 late1 low4 ,king of ,wurtemburg1 early1 tall1 very fine4 ,a la ,mode1 early1 low1 a perfect blue4 ,pasquin1 early1 tall1 a light blue4 ,globe ,terrestre1 late1 low1 perfect flower4 ,laurens ,coster1 low1 early4 ,koning ,ascingaris1 tall1 early4 ,bloksberg1 late1 low4 ,lord ,raglan1 low1 early4 ,richard ,steele1 low1 early4 ,single1 ,blue of all shades1 ,l',amie de ,cur1 tall1 early1 very dark4 ,l',unique1 tall1 early1 rich purplish blue4 ,bleu ,mourant1 late1 low1 deep blue4 ,charles ,dickens1 tall1 early1 perfect flower4 ,porcelaine ,scepter1 low1 early1 light blue4 ,la ,peyrouse1 low1 early1 porcelaine blue4 ,double1 ,white4 ,duc de ,berry1 late1 tall4 ,duchess of ,bedford1 late1 low4 ,la ,deese1 late1 low4 ,la ,virginitie1 low1 early4 ,virgo1 tall1 early4 ,lord ,anson1 low1 early4 ,single1 ,white4 ,alba ,superbissima1 low1 early4 ,bella ,donna1 late1 low4 ,blanchard1 tall1 early4 ,la ,candeur1 low1 early4 ,queen ,victoria1 low1 early4 ,queen of the ,netherlands1 tall1 early4 ,double1 ,red and ,rose4 ,belle ,marie1 late1 tall4 ,bouquet ,constant1 low1 early4 ,la ,gaiete1 low1 early4 ,mars1 late1 low4 ,sir ,thomas ,grey1 late1 low4 ,czar ,nicholas1 low1 early4 ,lord ,wellington1 low1 early1 fine4 ,perruque ,royale1 late1 tall4 ,single1 ,red and ,rose4 ,belle ,corrinne1 low1 early4 ,madame ,hodson1 tall1 early4 ,robert ,steiger1 tall1 early4 ,princess ,victoria1 late1 low4 ,jenny ,lind1 low1 early4 ,duchess of ,richmond1 tall1 early4 ,double1 ,yellow4 ,bouquet d',orange1 low1 early4 ,crsus1 late1 low4 ,jaune ,supreme1 tall1 early4 ,la ,grandeur1 late1 low4 ,van ,spek1 tall1 early4 ,single1 ,yellow4 ,alida ,jacobea1 low1 early4 ,anna ,carolina1 late1 low4 ,fleur d',or1 low1 early4 ,koning ,van ,holland1 low1 early4 ,la ,pluie d',or1 tall1 early4 ,prit ,hein1 low1 early4 ,rhinosceros1 tall1 early4 ,the ,tulip4 ,this bulbous plant has been aptly styled 8,the ,fop of ,flowers10 for it is the most gorgeous of all the spring flowers1 and its variety of colors1 most delicately blended1 are almost beyond the power of imagination4 ,their culture is so simple1 that no one can well afford to be without a bed of them1 for an early display of gorgeous bloom4 ,they are natives of ,persia1 and the name is derived from tulipan1 a turban1 the calyx of the flower resembling that ,eastern head-dress4 ,the ,turks first cultivated them1 and from thence they were sent to ,vienna4 ,at first they were supposed to be eatable1 like onions1 but were found unpalatable2 then they were preserved in sugar1 but their taste was not improved1 so they were thrown out upon a refuse heap as worthless trash2 here they bloomed1 and thus revealed the beauty of the flower4 ,conrad ,gesner1 the ,swiss botanist1 first saw the flower in #aeei1 and described it scientifically4 ,many years afterwards1 ,linnus gave the flower the specific name of ,gesneriana1 in honor of ,gesner4 ,linnus styles bulbs1 8,the hybernacle1 or winter lodge1 of the young plants40 ,darwin says1 8,these bulbs in every respect resemble buds1 except in their being produced under ground1 and include the leaves and flowers in minature which are to be expanded in the ensuing spring4 ,by cautiously cutting in winter through the concentric coats of a ,tulip root1 longitudinally from the top to the base1 and taking them off successively1 the whole flower of the next summer's ,tulip is beautifully seen by the naked eye1 with its petals1 pistils1 and stamens4 ,the flowers exist in other bulbs in the same manner1 but their individual flowers being of less size1 they are not so easily dissected1 or so conspicuous to the naked eye4 ,the poet thus describes the bulb3-- 8,quick flies fair ,tulipa the loud alarms1 ,and folds her infant closer in her arms2 ,in some lone cave's secure pavilion lies1 ,and waits the courtship of serener skies40 ,in the first half of the #agth century the historical episode of the tulipomania occurred4 ,it commenced in ,holland1 thence spread to ,france1 and ,england would have felt its influence had she not been fully occupied with the more sanguinary mania of civil war4 ,the almost incredible extravagances of this mania are usually laid to the ,dutch2 but this is erroneous4 ,as well attribute the deeds of reckless stock speculators in railways1 to the scientific engineers who planned and constructed them4 ,the high esteem in which the ,dutch held the flower1 doubtless sowed the seeds of the disease2 but the immense prices given for single roots1 had no reference to their floral value4 ,it was the love of gambling1 and not the love of flowers1 which created them4 ,speculators bought or sold tulip roots at a certain price1 to be delivered at a specified time1 just as the frequenters of the stock exchange speculate by time bargains in stock4 ,thus the tulip king of the era would possess himself of a certain variety of ,tulip1 and then offer to purchase more2 other dealers1 supposing they could procure them easily1 would undertake to deliver a certain quantity at such a time1 at an agreed price2 that variety would rise in value1 and so the artful speculator could obtain almost any price he pleased for his roots1 purchased at a low price4 8,bulls10 8bears10 8ducks10 8gulls0 and other like animals1 well known to those who frequent the stock markets1 are not a modern invention2 but centuries ago existed in ,holland and ,france4 ,the ,dutch amateurs loved their ,tulip roots as they loved their own houses and lands1 and ,crabbe tells us that3-- 8,with all his phlegm1 it broke a ,dutchman's heart1 ,at a vast price1 with one loved root to part40 ,some individuals gave all they possessed for the coveted bulbs1 and we read that one root was exchanged for four fat oxen4 ,in ,england1 as late as #ahce1 a root named 8,fanny ,kemble0 sold at auction for #bbe4 ,tulips do not bloom quickly from the seed2 five years at least must elapse before 8the bright1 consummate flower0 appears1 and its bloom is usually a self1 or mere ground color1 and is termed a breeder2 but in a few years the calyx will become variegated1 and it is termed broken2 so when a really choice variety is produced1 its annual offsets is its only means of propagation1 and it must command a high price for some years4 ,the late variety of ,tulip mostly cultivated is ,t4 ,gesneriana1 and is divided into three classes1 viz43--roses1 byblomens1 and bizarres4 ,the 8roses0 are marked with cherry1 scarlet1 pink and crimson stripes or veins1 on a white ground4 ,they are usually eighteen inches high1 and their cups are large and well formed4 ,the 8byblomens0 are marked with black1 lilac or purple1 on a white ground2 and the 8bizarres0 are feathered with purple1 pink1 cherry1 scarlet1 etc41 on a yellow ground4 ,these classes are still divided into flamed and feathered4 ,a ,tulip has neither corolla or petal1 but a calyx of colored sepals4 ,a feathered ,tulip has a dark colored edge1 growing lighter toward the margin4 ,those of our readers who have never seen a bed of these ,tulips cannot even imagine the brilliancy of their colorings and gorgeous featherings4 ,when planted in diamonds1 ovals1 stars or circles1 on a well kept lawn1 the effect is splendid6 ,the 8,duc ,van ,thol0 varieties are a very early kind1 blossoming in temperate climates early in ,march4 ,they are dwarfs1 their stems not over six inches high1 and they are excellent for winter flowering in window gardens4 ,there are white1 yellow1 scarlet1 red1 rose and striped varieties1 and small beds of them scattered over a lawn1 present at a distance the appearance of brilliant butterflies hovering over the grass4 ,they are perfectly hardy1 but will flower more plentifully if taken up every spring1 when the leaves have decayed4 ,the 8,tournesol0 species come into bloom next to the 8,van ,thols10 and are double and only in two kinds2 the red and yellow1 and the clear1 pure yellow4 ,in mixed beds they are very gorgeous4 ,the ,double ,tulips gain in favor yearly2 their flowers are very brilliant and large4 ,crown of ,roses is of the richest rose color4 ,belle ,alliance1 white1 striped1 and feathered with violet4 ,gloria ,mundi1 delicate primrose1 striped with crimson4 ,la ,candeur1 of the purest white and perfect shape4 ,poupre ,agreable1 white and violet1 late4 ,marriage de ma ,fille1 pure white1 striped with cerise1 late4 ,pony ,gold1 yellow1 beautifully shaded1 late4 ,lord ,wellington1 blue1 very showy1 late4 ,amsterdam1 brown and red1 curiously blended1 late4 ,the ,parrot ,tulips are the most curious and unique of all the varieties4 ,the flowers are magnificently striped and feathered1 with many colors1 most picturesquely mingled1 while the edges of the sepals are fringed like fretted lace work4 ,they are very desirable for groups and clumps1 and1 if planted around low evergreens1 will stand out finely against the dark1 green background4 ,the most distinct varieties are3-- ,constantinople1 a bright yellow and red4 ,glorieuse1 a brilliant scarlet4 ,markgraf1 striped1 red and yellow4 ,monstre ,rouge1 large1 crimson4 ,belle ,jaune1 large yellow1 feathered with red and green4 ,cultivation of the ,tulip4 ,fresh1 sandy loam1 such as is obtained from upland pastures1 is the best soil4 ,remove the sods from sheep or cow pastures1 and take the virgin soil4 ,the late blooming ,tulips should be planted four inches in depth2 the 8,van ,thols10 etc41 from two to three inches1 according to their size1 and their roots will strike down from five to six inches4 ,good garden soil1 mixed with cow manure1 two years-old1 and a plentiful sprinkling of sand1 will grow them to advantage4 ,never put fresh barnyard compost near them2 it will burn up the bulbs4 ,they should be planted in ,november1 and be firmly set in the soil1 six inches apart for the tall varieties1 and four inches for the 8,van ,thols40 ,sprinkle sand1 as directed for ,hyacinths1 into each hole2 this will keep the bulbs from rotting at the base4 ,after the ground freezes1 cover with straw1 or leaves1 for the freezing and thawing of the ground injures the blooms of the next spring4 ,when the leaves fall1 cut off the stems1 and when the leaves are dried up the bulbs can be removed1 the offsets separated1 and treated just like ,hyacinths4 ,in selecting the bulbs1 choose those that are solid1 a little pointed1 and the skin entire4 ,these flowers will richly repay the little care expended upon them1 and ,i especially desire to call the attention of lady florists to their merits4 ,as ,i write this chapter1 ,i feast my eyes on a small bed of 8,van ,thols0 that are perfectly gorgeous1 and attract the attention of every passer-by4 ,the cold north wind whistles around the windows1 and bends the brilliant calyx of their blooms1 but does not mar their beauty4 ,by their side sweet ,hyacinths bloom1 and they are all the flowers which my garden can boast in this young spring-time4 ,the ,daffodils4 ,these are hardy bulbs1 which are common in old-fashioned gardens1 and our grandmothers loved to cherish them4 ,they will bloom in out-of-the-way places for years and years1 and ask no care or attention4 ,the flowers are of a brilliant yellow4 ,the ,jonquils4 ,their creamy1 rose-tipped1 chalices are always lovely1 and the double varieties are fair and white as roses2 but some of them lack the fragrance of their sister bulbs4 ,the ,narcissus4 ,this is an extensive family which grows freely in any good garden loam4 ,the ,daffodil and ,jonquil belong to the family1 and there are many varieties of the ,polyanthus ,narcissus1 which are the most lovely bulbs of the class4 ,their flowers are formed in clusters of six to twelve flowers on a single stem1 and of every shade from purest white to deepest orange4 ,the cup of the white varieties is always yellow1 and of the yellow1 a deep orange4 ,these bulbs flower finely in the window garden1 and three or four bulbs can be grown in a small pot4 ,the ,double ,narcissus is very desirable for its perfect flower and spicy fragrance4 ,they all require the same treatment as ,hyacinths1 and should be planted four inches deep1 and set out in clumps1 ten inches apart4 ,anemones4 ,these are very lovely bulbs2 their colors are gorgeous1 and the markings1 belts and stripes very charming4 ,double and single are both beautiful4 ,the bulbs are tender in our north countries1 and can be kept in the house until spring1 in a dry1 cool place1 and set out as soon as the ground is well thawed4 ,in mild climates they can be planted in ,october or ,november4 ,they bloom after the earlier bulbs are gone1 and their flowers last a long time4 ,when the leaves turn yellow1 take up the roots1 dry in the shade1 and pack away in sand until autumn4 ,the ,lily of the ,valley ,must not be forgotten among ,spring ,flowering ,bulbs1 though her roots partake more of the nature of small1 thin tubers4 ,she hangs her pearly bells like so many fragrant censers1 and is ever welcome and ever lovely--a true home flower1 sanctified to many hearts by both festive and funeral occasions4 ,no garden is complete without a bed of them6 ,there are both double and single varieties1 but the latter are the most common4 ,these sweet flowers require no care1 will bloom for years in the same bed1 and throw out their pure white tuberous roots far into the pathways4 ,they love the shade1 and flourish best in an out-of-the-way corner1 where the soil is moist and rich4 ,are perfectly hardy1 requiring no protection in the coldest winter4 ,there is no bulb that flourishes so perfectly under neglect2 and no flower which is more perfect in form and fragrance4 ,the ,ranunculus4 ,there are two kinds of these bulbs--the ,double ,persian1 and the ,turban2 they form a fine contrast when planted together4 ,they require a rich soil1 at least a foot and a half in depth of friable1 rich earth2 that taken from a marshy wood--deep and dark1 and mixed with very old decomposed manure--is the best for them4 ,they need to be frequently watered2 drought will kill their blossoms1 and they are too tender to endure the cold of northern winters1 but must be kept in dry sand1 and planted out three inches deep1 early in the spring4 ,the hot sun will fade out their bright colors1 so it is best to plant them in the shade4 ,ixias1 ,scillas1 ,irises1 ,colchicums and ,crown ,imperials are all good border plants1 and add variety to a bed of bulbous roots4 ,generally1 any well-drained garden soil will answer for them2 if clay1 a good sprinkling of sand1 and a top dressing of well decayed manure will make them bloom more freely4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,bulbs ,,for ,,summer ,,flowering4 8#8,look at the ,lilies1 how they grow6' ',twas thus the ,saviour said1 that we1 ,e'en in the simplest flowers that blow1 ,god's ever watchful care might see4 ,shall ,he who paints the ,lily's leaf1 ,who gives the ,rose its scented breath1 ,love all ,his works1 except the chief1 ,and leave ,his image1 man1 to death80 ,the ,japan ,lilies4 ,bulbs that can be preserved in the house in a dry state during the winter1 and planted in the ground in the spring1 or those which live out during the winter and bloom in the house1 are called ,summer ,bulbs4 ,to this class belong the ,japan ,lilies1 ,gladiolus1 ,dahlias1 ,tuberoses1 ,tigridias1 ,amaryllis formosissima1 ,valotta purpurea superba1 and ,tritomas4 ,these flowers are of very easy cultivation1 and contribute largely to the beauty of the garden2 their magnificent bloom well repaying the little attention they require4 ,the peculiar nature of a bulb is not generally well understood2 it really partakes more of the properties of a seed1 for1 when in the act of vegetating it sends down into the soil roots1 and into the air a living stem1 and the matter contained in the bulb decomposes and nourishes the young plant1 while the seed decays in giving birth to the plant2 but the bulb is renewed1 and from the roots another bulb is composed which appears to be the same one planted1 yet it is its offspring1 and the offsets or young bulbs are its suckers1 and are distinct from the parent bulb4 ,thus like the myth of the ,phenix springing from the ashes of the parent bulb1 the offspring is formed4 ,this formation is readily seen in the ,gladiolus and the ,crocus4 ,the rarely beautiful ,lilies which have been imported from ,japan are great additions to the list of summer flowers4 ,they are shaped like the old-fashioned ,tiger ,lily1 always seen in old gardens1 but entirely surpass it in the beauty of their coloring4 ,they were first treated as 8stove plants10 and did not show forth their glories1 but now they will survive the coldest northern winter with a slight covering of leaves1 and have proved themselves indispensable4 ,they grow readily in any good soil1 but like all other flowers1 will repay their cultivator if supplied with a rich1 loamy soil1 mixed with sandy peat2 this is their native soil1 and they will produce many more flowers upon one stalk if attention is paid to their wants4 ,they require much moisture when in flower1 and if the season is very hot and dry1 will bloom much longer if mulched with moist manure4 ,we are indebted to the enterprising and scientific traveler1 ,dr4 ,siebold1 for the introduction of the ,japan ,lilies to our gardens4 ,lilium speciosum has been thus described3--8,the clear1 deep rose-color of its petals are all rugged with rubies and garnets1 sparkling with crystal points4 ,indeed1 the diamond bouquets1 the ,queen of ,spain's jewels1 and even the far-famed ,koh-i-noor itself1 must pale their ineffectual fires1 when compared with this gorgeous flower4 ,the jeweler who wishes to produce a most exquisitely tasteful1 as well as dazzling and brilliant ornament1 should take one of these ,lilies as his model40 ,lilium lancifolium album has pure white flowers2 sometimes the lower part of the petals are washed with violet4 ,lilium lancifolium punctatum has flowers of a flesh color1 with spots of delicate rose4 ,lilium lancifolium rubrum possesses very large flowers of rose-color1 suffused with carmine1 and purplish colored papilla4 ,lilium longiflorum is a very beautiful species1 growing nearly two feet high1 and producing from one to five flowers1 according to the size of the bulb2 the flowers are of a pure1 waxy white1 trumpet shaped1 and from six to eight inches long4 ,it blooms early in ,july1 while the above-named varieties do not bloom until ,august4 ,lilium eximium is another handsome variety1 resembling ,l4 longiflorum1 but the flowers are larger and their color is of a sating whiteness4 ,lilium ,brownii possesses many of the characteristics of the two preceding1 but the outside of the flower is striped with deep brownish-violet lines4 ,all these ,lilies will grow and blossom luxuriantly for several weeks4 ,they increase rapidly by small bulbs below the soil1 and it is well to remove them every autumn1 and plant them separately4 ,thus treated1 they will often bloom the second season4 ,the small bulbs should be planted in a light1 sandy soil1 and covered two inches deep4 ,the soil should not be made too rich with manure1 as it tends to rot the bulbs4 ,a ,double ,japan ,lily has been produced1 but as yet the bulbs are very rare and high priced4 ,and ,mr4 ,fortune has introduced from ,china1 ,lilium tigrinum ,fortunei1 which is remarkable for its vigorous growth1 and its immense cluster of flowers which branch out in three successive series from the main stem1 thus prolonging its season of bloom4 ,another novelty is ,lilium tigrinum splendens1 introduced by ,m4 ,van ,houtte1 which resembles the ,fortunei in many respects1 but differs from it in color1 and has more prominent spots on the perianth4 ,both of them are considered gorgeous additions to the family of bulbous plants4 ,lilium auratum is styled the 8,queen of the ,japanese ,lilies40 ,to its perfect form and rare coloring1 it adds the most delicious fragrance4 ,its blossoms are very large1 and each petal is decorated with a golden band running through its center4 ,it is perfectly hardy1 and often produces from fifteen to twenty-five blossoms on a single stalk4 ,good flowering bulbs are now held at a low price4 ,it flowers in ,august1 but by planting in pots its time of blossoming can be forestalled4 ,like the other ,lilies1 it delights in a sandy loam4 ,the ,japan ,lilies make fine lawn plants4 ,if planted in a circular bed1 with the tallest in the center1 the effect is very pleasing4 ,the ,gladiolus4 ,the ,gladiolus has become the chief favorite among its class4 ,its name is derived from its sword-shaped leaves2 it possesses upwards of sixty species1 divided by hybridization into an immense number of varieties4 ,in nearly all the species the flowers retain the same form1 but they differ in colorings and markings4 ,these bulbs are mostly natives of ,cape of ,good ,hope1 ,madagascar and ,southern ,africa4 ,they will not survive our northern climate1 and must always be kept in a cool1 dry place during the winter4 ,in their native land1 they bloom during the wet season1 which shows us that they require a good supply of moisture to bloom in perfection in our dry1 hot summers4 ,these flowers were not much known until #agie1 when the ,cape ,colony was ceded to ,england1 and her botanists and collectors of rare plants seized upon them with delight4 ,since then they have become 8,florists' ,flowers10 and their successful hybridizations have greatly increased their beauty and colorings4 ,to grow the bulbs in perfection1 they should be planted in a sandy loam1 enriched with leaf mould and peat4 ,a mixture of one-half loam1 one-quarter peat1 and one-quarter leaf mould will suit them perfectly4 ,they may be planted in the open air during ,april or ,may4 ,if strong manures are used in the soil1 it causes the colors of the flowers to run into each other1 and gives them a muddy appearance4 ,the bulbs can be planted in groups or singly4 ,groups of three or five are the most usual way of planting them4 ,they should be set from two to four inches deep1 according to the size of the bulbs4 ,as they grow up1 they should be tied to a light stake1 from three to four feet long4 ,when the frost has killed the leaves1 dig up the bulbs1 dry them in the sun1 cut off the leaves an inch from the stem1 and put the bulbs in a paper bag4 ,kept in a frost-proof cellar1 they will retain all their life4 ,from one bulb1 two or three bulbs will spring2 they increase rapidly1 and can be purchased cheaply4 ,the high prices in the catalogues are no criterion of their beauty1 but only mark them as 8novelties40 ,many bulbs are held at four dollars a root1 but that shows their scarcity4 ,low priced varieties will often please us quite as well1 and are not surpassed by the colors of the 8novelties40 ,among the most beautiful of the ,gladiolus1 are3-- ,belle ,gabrielle1 a perfectly shaped flower1 fine lilac-colored rose1 marked with a bright rose-color4 ,charles ,dickens1 delicate rose1 tinted with chamois1 striped with a rosy carmine4 ,comte de ,morny1 rosy scarlet flecked with rich crimson1 lower petals shaded with crimson4 ,dr4 ,lindley1 very large flower of perfect shape1 rose-color petals of a brighter shade1 feathered with cherry-color2 very showy4 ,lady ,franklin1 white1 slightly tinged with rose1 striped and blazed with carminate rose4 ,la ,franais1 flower pure white1 and very large1 with small bluish violet blotches2 very fine4 ,moliere1 flower very large2 a bright cherry-red with large1 pure white stains4 ,mozart1 bright rose1 tinted with violet1 blazed with dark carmine1 with pure white stains2 a very beautiful variety4 ,roi ,leopold1 bright rose1 tinged with orange1 and stained with white4 ,stephenson1 large flower1 cherry-colored1 striped with white lines2 splendid spike of flowers4 ,stella1 perfect shaped flower1 white ground1 slightly tinged with yellow and rose2 very brilliant and showy4 ,sir ,walter ,scott1 very bright rose-color on a white ground1 striped with carmine2 very fine4 ,vicomtesse de ,belleval1 delicate blush1 stained with violet4 ,good varieties can be purchased from #a4ej to #b4jj per dozen4 ,gladioli show to good advantage if planted around rose bushes1 or among herbaceous perennials4 ,they bloom late in the season1 when most of these flowers are past1 and if well trained to stakes1 which should be set when the flower is planted1 they will produce a charming effect4 ,they make very nice house plants for window gardens2 six or eight bulbs can be grown in a twelve-inch pot1 and each kind tied to a thin stake4 ,they will bloom finely4 ,if the stalks are cut off for vases or bouquets1 they will continue to bloom for a week or two1 sending forth fresh flowers daily4 ,there is no bulbous root which gives a greater variety of colors in its flowers1 or better repays the care and attention bestowed upon it4 ,all lovers of flowers must cultivate a few of these desirable bulbs4 ,the ,dahlia4 ,the great variety and beauty of its blossoms1 and their profusion in the later summer and autumn1 when many of our handsomest flowers are gone1 make it well worthy of good culture4 ,the ,dahlia is a native of ,mexico1 and was found by ,baron ,humboldt growing on the elevated1 sandy plains of ,mexico1 five thousand feet above the level of the sea4 ,he gathered the seeds and sent them to the ,abbe ,cavanilles1 ,professor of ,botany at the ,royal ,garden of ,madrid1 who succeeded in flowering a plant in ,october1 #aghi1 to which he gave the name of ,dahlia pinnata1 in honor of ,dahl1 a ,swedish botanist1 a pupil of ,linnus4 ,objections were made to this name because it resembled ,dalea1 a name given to an entirely different plant1 in honor of ,dale1 an ,englishman4 ,professor ,wildenow1 in his 8,species ,plantarum10 calls it ,georgina1 after ,georgi1 a ,russian botanist4 ,de ,candolle and other eminent writers adopted that title2 but the original name was the favorite1 and still exists4 ,in #agij1 the ,marchioness of ,bute received some seeds from ,spain1 which flowered finely1 but not knowing how to treat the tubers in the winter1 the plants were lost4 ,in #ahjd1 ,lady ,holland sent seeds to ,m4 ,buonainti1 a practical gardner and skillful botanist2 he cultivated them successfully1 and from those seeds almost all the various kinds of ,dahlias have sprung4 ,de ,candolle obtained seeds1 and in #ahaj he describes only five varieties of ,variabilis1 and three of ,frustranea2 but he had no double flower4 ,the first double ,dahlia was sent from ,stuttgard to ,mons4 ,von ,otto1 who raised one similar1 in the ,royal ,garden at ,berlin1 in #ahji4 ,he labored patiently to improve the varieties1 and by #ahaf had three more double flowers2 but not until #ahbj could he show six double flowering kinds4 ,now they are counted by the hundreds and thousands2 and it would seem as if there were no limits to the improvement of it4 ,mr4 ,paxton asks1 8,who would have supposed1 that from one comparatively insignificant plant1 such endless1 innumerable1 beautiful varieties could have been produced2 and what may we not anticipate8 ,it is not unreasonable to expect still a greater improvement4 ,may we not have combinations of those clear1 rich1 and exquisitely beautiful colors for which the ,tulip has been so long admired8 ,perhaps1 ere long1 our fancy may be gratified by seeing ,dahlias with the shades of black and white associated in the same flower2 and the popular taste may be also gratified with globular shaped flowers40 ,a blue ,dahlia was the ne plus ultra for which the florists strove1 and many watered their young seedlings with an infusion of indigo1 hoping thereby to give the desired cerulean hue4 ,mons4 de ,candolle considers yellow and blue to be the fundamental types of colors in flowers1 and that they are antagonistic1 i4 e41 mutually exclude each other2 the blue flowers can by cultivation be changed into all shades of red1 purple and white1 while the yellow will pass into the same shades1 but never into blue4 ,for many years the ,dahlia showed only the shades of purple and crimson1 and it was not believed that any other color could be produced4 ,a pure white flower at length was produced1 and caused a great sensation2 and the yellow was greeted with much delight ,the growing of ,dahlias was a passion in ,england and the ,united ,states1 twenty years ago2 and new varieties were much sought for4 ,large sums of money were paid for them4 ,the ,liliputian or ,pompone ,dahlias are very lovely for bouquets and vases4 ,the flowers are of the desired globular shape1 and each petal is perfectly cupped and tinted4 ,they grow about eighteen inches to two feet high1 and are desirable for the smallest garden4 ,some of the flowers are no larger than a ,ranunculus2 the plant is perfectly covered with buds and flowers that produce a charming effect4 ,dahlias will grow in almost any kind of soil1 excepting wet1 heavy clay loam2 but a moderately rich1 light loam is the best4 ,a clear1 open location1 well exposed to the sun1 is indispensable for the finest blooms4 ,they grow finely on the southwestern side of a fence1 making a hedge of unsurpassed beauty4 ,the plants should be set three feet apart2 if grown en masse1 they should have as much room as that1 and they will grow so bushy1 that at a little distance1 they will appear closely grouped4 ,as borderings on each side of a walk1 they show to great advantage1 and can be planted once in two and a half feet4 ,dahlias can be trained by pegging down the tender shoots1 so that they will cover a bed2 the branches must be pegged down as the plants grow1 until the bed is entirely covered1 and will present an uniform mass of flowers and foliage4 ,plants for this purpose should be set only two feet apart4 ,some train them in the espalier form1 by allowing three or four stems to grow from each root1 laying them diagonally on both sides1 and filling up the center with the lateral shoots4 ,these flowers are propagated by seeds1 division of the tubers1 and by cuttings4 ,few1 but experienced florists1 succeed in growing them in the last-named manner1 but all of us can raise them from the two former4 ,it is no more work to grow a ,dahlia than a potato4 ,keeping ,dahlias through the ,winter4 ,the tubers need not be dug up until just before the ground freezes2 then remove them to a dry out-house for a day or two to dry off4 ,don't break the tubers apart1 but cut the stem down to within a few inches of them1 and use it as a handle by which to lift them4 ,all the flowering stems of another season are situated on or near the point of junction between the tubers and the stem4 ,when they are so dried that the soil will all shake off1 pack them in barrels or boxes and fill up with sand that has been dried in the sun especially for them4 ,if you put them in damp sand they will decay4 ,after they are carefully packed1 put them in a dry cellar--frost-proof1 and they will come out in ,march and ,april fresh and vigorous4 ,in planting them1 it is considered best to set out the cluster of tubers1 and after the shoots have sprouted two or three inches1 to separate them1 leaving two shoots to a tuber4 ,when planted out into the border1 put the root at least three inches under ground1 and water carefully1 shading from the sun for two or three days4 ,a stake must be inserted close by the stem when the tuber is planted1 and as the shoots advance1 tie them to it4 ,if placed there after the plant is growing1 you may injure the roots4 ,it is from seeds alone that new varieties spring4 ,they should be sown early in the spring1 in shallow boxes in a window or hot-bed1 in a rich1 light soil1 with a good sprinkling of sand2 as soon as the third and fourth leaves are well developed1 plant them in two-inch pots1 or in boxes three inches apart2 shade them from the light for two days or so1 as the seedlings are very tender4 ,they can be planted into the border when all danger of frost is past2 and if the soil is enriched with well-rotted cow-manure1 the blooms will be finer4 ,until the buds show their coloring1 there is no way of ascertaining it with certainty1 though plants with pure green stems will usually produce white flowers1 those with reddish-brown stems the darkest colored flowers1 and those with light brown stems1 pale or blush-colored flowers4 ,such plants as are not handsome should be pulled up1 as soon as the flowers have fully shown their character2 and give more room for the beautiful ones to grow in4 ,if the finest blooms are desired1 the side branches should all be pinched off1 and only the three or four strongest shoots allowed to grow1 and on these the buds must be thinned out1 leaving only three or four to come to perfection4 ,the hot sun is injurious to the more delicate shades1 and careful cultivators suspend an oiled paper1 to protect their rare plants from it1 also from heavy1 drenching rains4 ,soapsuds make an excellent fertilizer1 and it is well to give the roots a thorough drenching with it1 at least once a week4 ,much of the success in growing fine ,dahlias depends upon training them carefully1 and fastening the shoots with soft yarn to the stake every few days4 ,by protecting from the first frosts1 the blossoms may be prolonged late into the autumn1 after the death of most flowers of the garden1 and if gathered and kept in fresh water1 the flowers will last a fortnight1 or even longer4 ,a select list of varieties3-- ,america1 raised by ,mr4 ,gerhard ,schmitz1 of ,philadelphia1 who has been very successful in producing fine varieties2 white ground1 striped and splashed with rosy-crimson1 perfect globular shade1 and cupped petals4 ,received first prize from ,pennsylvania ,horticultural ,society4 ,amazon1 scarlet margins1 yellow center4 ,alba multiflora1 pure white4 ,ali ,baba1 deep scarlet4 ,amorette1 light rose1 edged with lilac4 ,antiope1 buff1 shaded with carmine4 ,autumn ,glow1 orange-salmon1 buff edge4 ,bird of ,passage1 white1 tipped with carmine4 ,colossus1 large yellow4 ,carnation striped1 buff1 striped with crimson and lilac4 ,charivari1 yellow striped and blotched with carmine4 ,conqueror of the whites1 purest white4 ,duchess of ,cambridge1 pink1 edged with crimson4 ,ebene1 rosy-buff1 mottled with white4 ,gem1 scarlet1 tipped with white4 ,glowing ,coal1 crimson-scarlet4 ,hebe1 white1 edged with yellow1 tipped with red4 ,koh-i-noor1 canary-yellow4 ,maude1 white1 tipped with lilac4 ,murillo1 salmon1 shaded lilac and carmine4 ,oullet ,parfait1 buff1 striped with scarlet4 ,queen ,mab1 scarlet tipped with white4 ,striata1 lilac1 striped with maroon4 ,talisman1 rose1 striped with crimson4 ,tiger1 maroon-purple4 ,startler1 maroon1 tipped with white4 ,select ,list of ,liliputian or ,pompone ,dahlias4 ,arndt1 magenta1 with brown stripes and spots4 ,alba ,floribunda nana1 pure white1 very dwarf4 ,black ,diamond1 maroon4 ,guiding ,star1 pure white1 fimbriated4 ,exquisite1 rich golden yellow1 tipped with scarlet4 ,kind and ,true1 straw-color1 tipped with purple4 ,little ,nymph1 white1 shaded with rose4 ,little ,kate1 dark crimson4 ,little ,willie1 richest deep pink4 ,little ,agnes1 brightest of scarlets4 ,little ,dear1 blush1 marbled with white4 ,little ,herman1 the finest ,liliput ,dahlia in cultivation2 cherry-pink1 tipped with white4 ,otto ,weilbacher1 yellow1 striped with scarlet4 ,rachel1 salmon1 tipped with crimson4 ,rose of ,gold1 finest vermillion4 ,tansenblitz1 deep maroon1 shaded with rose4 ,utz1 dark maroon4 ,tuberoses4 ,one of the most beautiful of all the summer-flowering bulbs1 and unequaled in fragrance by any flower that grows4 ,the flowers are in much request upon all festive occasions1 and are also in use for funeral wreaths1 crosses1 etc4 ,it is said that a million of roots are grown about the environs of ,new ,york1 and they can be purchased from a single flower1 with a scented leaf of geranium1 to immense dishes or baskets of them1 arranged with other flowers4 ,fifty flowers have been raised on a single stem1 but from sixteen to twenty is the average number4 ,the bulbs never bloom but once1 but numerous small offsets form round the parent root1 which1 if kept over winter in a dry place1 not less than fifty degrees in temperature1 will bloom in two years4 ,in latitudes north of ,new ,york city1 the bulbs must be started early in ,march1 to bloom before the frost touches them4 ,there are few plants grown in the garden which give more perfect satisfaction4 ,the ,double ,tuberose is considered the most desirable flower1 but the single possesses the same delicious perfume1 and blooms earlier than the double4 ,a new variety1 with variegated leaves striped with light yellow1 is admired for its novelty4 ,they bloom best in a sandy soil1 well enriched with concentrated manures2 ,guano water1 prepared as before described1 will hasten their flowering1 and increase the number of buds4 ,it can be given twice a week1 if the bulbs are in the open ground or in large boxes4 ,the ,tigridia4 ,the ,tiger-flower1 or ,tigridia1 is a very showy ,mexican bulb1 growing about eighteen inches high2 its flowers are four inches in diameter1 and of most gorgeous coloring1 and curious form4 ,they require the same culture as the ,gladiolus2 will not live out of doors in cold latitudes4 ,there are as yet but four or five varieties1 which bloom from ,july to ,october4 ,t4 pavonia1 scarlet1 spotted and tipped with yellow4 ,t4 conchiflora1 orange and yellow1 with black spots4 ,t4 conchiflora grandiflora1 lemon-color1 spotted with crimson4 ,t4 speciosa1 orange1 with deep1 maroon-colored spots4 ,amaryllis formosissima4 ,the ,jacobean ,lily1 or ,amaryllis formosissima1 is a dwarf-growing plant1 and each bulb will usually produce two flowers of the richest crimson-violet hue1 and of remarkably beautiful form2 the flowers have six petals1 three erect and reflexed1 and three drooping1 giving the flower a peculiarly graceful appearance4 ,if planted early1 in the house or hot-bed1 it will bloom in ,june or ,july4 ,the bulbs must be preserved like those of the ,tigridia4 ,vallota ,purpurea ,superba4 ,this plant is of the easiest culture1 and no summer flowering bulb surpasses it in richness of coloring4 ,it is a native of the ,cape of ,good ,hope2 and its leaves do not die down after the flowering season1 so it cannot be packed away like other bulbs1 but must be kept at rest in the earth1 in a dry state4 ,the leaves are flat and of a rich green1 and spread out like a fan4 ,the flower stalk rises about a foot in height1 and bears a cluster of from six to eight scarlet1 lily-shaped flowers4 ,the bulbs are increased by numerous offsets1 which will bloom in three years1 at the latest4 ,botanists class this flower with the genus ,amaryllis1 and it is called in some books ,amaryllis speciosa2 but it is more commonly known as ,valotta purpurea1 though there is no shade of purple about it1 for the flowers are of the brightest scarlet1 with bright yellow stamens and anthers4 ,the bulbs can be planted out in the open border1 and repotted when the frost comes4 ,it is such a showy and elegant plant1 that it should be cultivated by all who delight in ,flowering ,bulbs4 ,tritoma ,uvaria ,grandiflora4 ,this is a splendid plant1 with a magnificent spike of rich orange-red flowers2 from its glowing color it has been called 8,red ,hot ,poker40 ,it will bloom freely in any good garden soil1 and is hardy in the latitude of ,new ,york city1 but farther north1 the roots require to be kept in sand during the winter4 ,the flower-stem will often grow from four to five feet in height1 and it produces a very fine effect4 ,to bloom before the frost1 they require to be started in ,march or ,april1 and should not be planted out until there is settled warm weather4 ,the ,summer ,flowering ,bulbs form a distinct class of flowers1 and will1 of themselves1 make a gloriously gorgeous garden1 requiring but little attention1 as their bulbous roots do not usually demand the frequent waterings that annuals and bedding-out plants must have in this hot1 dry climate4 ,these bulbs1 with the exception of the ,lilies which head the chapter1 must be housed in the winter1 in cold climates2 but our southern sisters can plant them out1 and they will only ask to be removed to new quarters1 as their offspring multiply and crowd them out4 ,the florists' catalogues offer them all at small cost1 and it is impossible for those who have not feasted their eyes upon their glowing beauties1 to even imagine their glories6 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,old ,,fashioned ,,flowers4 8,o1 ,father1 ,lord6 ,the ,all-beneficent6 ,i bless thy name1 ,that thou hast mantled the green earth with flowers1 ,linking our hearts to nature6 ,the old man's eye ,falls on the kindling blossoms1 and his soul ,remembers youth and love1 and hopefully ,turns unto ,thee1 who call'st earth's buried germs ,from dust to splendor2 as the mortal seed ,shall1 at thy summons1 from the grave spring up1 ,to put on glory1 to be girt with power1 ,and fill'd with immortality40 8,common in old country gardens10 is the term we often hear applied to flowers that are a little old-fashioned2 yet to many hearts they are very dear4 ,not all the boasted glories of ,verbenas1 ,coleus1 ,achyranthus1 and all the newer kinds of bedding-out plants can wean us from the flowers our grandmothers loved to cherish4 ,their colors1 markings and veinings may be far surpassed by the flowers of the present day1 yet loved hands once tended them2 bright eyes grew brighter at the sight of them2 and they are associated with all that is holy1 pure1 and of good report4 ,who does not like to remember the days of childhood1 when the gathering of old-fashioned flowers in grandmother's garden was one of the highest pleasures of life8 ,cowper says1 that 8it is a pity that a kitten should ever become a staid1 old cat10 and there certainly are individuals who are tempted to wish that they had ever continued to be children4 ,do you remember the delicious fragrance of the white ,lilac bushes that grew beside the door step1 at the old farm house1 and the handsful of ,lilies of the ,valley1 that you used to gather under the old pear trees1 beside the garden beds1 where grew ,sweet ,rocket1 ,violets1 ,columbines1 ,spiderwort1 ,fleur de ,luce1 ,daffodils1 ,sweet ,williams1 ,gilliflowers1 ,larkspurs1 ,lychnis1 and ,nasturtiums1 bright as butterflies8 ,to be sure you do1 and never will forget them while memory serves to furnish pictures for the mind's eye to view4 ,perhaps you gathered them to adorn a fair sister1 when she gave her hand to the lover whom all considered tried and true2 or1 with fast dropping1 blinding tears1 they were plucked to wither in the chilling embrace of the reaper1 ,death1 who had gathered the fairest flower of the hearthstone--the dearly loved baby--the youngest of the home circle6 ,all these associations1 and hundreds of others1 are linked to the 8old-fashioned flowers0 of the past2 so let us make room for them in the garden1 and cherish them fondly for the sake of those who once loved them so well4 ,i have a great fondness for the older annuals and hardy perennials1 which are now too often despised and neglected2 many of them are certainly more beautiful than those which are so much praised4 ,a well-pruned 8,snowball10 in full bloom1 is surely a thing of beauty6 ,and ,i am certain that there are many discarded flowers which would amply repay cultivation4 ,the tendency of the age is to run after all that is rare and new1 and to neglect that which every one possesses1 forgetting the divine command to the chief of apostles1 not to despise anything that ,god had made1 nor to esteem it common4 ,the first ,dandelion possesses a great charm to me1 is always gathered1 and kept in water as long as a trace of its beauty remains4 ,if it were a rare ,japanese or ,chinese novelty1 how we should cherish it6 but1 no1 it grows commonly by the road side1 and in every pasture1 so we pass it by4 ,there is no sweeter flower than the old1 neglected ,wall-flower1 yet who cultivates it now8 ,a recent writer says3 8,these old-fashioned flowers have a sweet fragrance which does not belong to modern favorites2 and however much the last may delight us1 they do not make us call to mind those delightful passages of our older poets that made our imaginations paint scenes of simple rural1 floral beauty and loveliness that no artistic pencil can realize2 but these #8old ladies' flowers1' or #8flowers of the poets1' often unveil to us some lovely picture or scene that long since1 in our earlier readings1 we had painted in the chambers of our heart1 and from which memory1 thus assisted1 removes a pile of rubbish that had well nigh buried it in oblivion40 ,so we plead for the 8flowers of the poets40 ,they are all of easy cultivation1 requiring little care1 and blooming in endless profusion and beauty1 and possessing a charm and loveliness fully equal to those which their modern sisters lay claim to4 ,to be sure the ,tiger ,lily1 which was supposed to be the 8,emblem of human pride that fades away1 ,of earthly joy that blooms but to decay10 has been forced to feel the truth of the lines1 and vacate its high estate for the more beauteous families imported from ,japan2 but the ,hollyhock1 of whom it was said1 8,how high his haughty honor holds his head10 has grown in elegance and gorgeousness of coloring1 and has attained to the front rank among 8florists' flowers40 ,and the ,aster and the ,balsam have increased in beauty1 and now take precedence of most other annuals2 and the ,gilliflower1 like a real friend1 attends us through all the vicissitudes and alterations of a century1 even growing more beautiful4 ,but the ,marigold is almost superseded by its more brilliant sister1 ,tagetes signata pumila1 which1 in spite of its high-sounding name1 is nothing but a single ,marigold4 ,but if we read the seedsmen's catalogues attentively1 we shall find the seeds of all of these 8old-fashioned flowers0 advertised1 and can supply ourselves with a goodly show of them4 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,vegetables--,,what ,,shall ,,we ,,plant8 ,,hot-,,bed--,,its ,,culture1 ,,etc4 ,the changes which the art of the florist has produced in double and variegated flowers1 are not to be compared with the effects of cultivation on vegetables which have been for ages man's peculiar property4 ,in their wild state1 they are now scarcely recognizable4 ,from the ,colewort1 whose scanty leaves do not weigh half an ounce1 come the sixty pound cabbages which are often seen in the markets4 ,from a small1 bitter root1 comes the potatoes1 ,early ,rose and ,peerless1 which exhibit the wondrous changes which have been wrought in them4 ,and so on to the end of the catalogue of vegetables6 ,what encouragement do not these facts afford to the cultivator who desires to make improvements in some classes of vegetables4 ,if he is a benefactor to his race who can make two blades of grass grow in the place of one1 surely he is one who gives to us a 8,trophy0 ,tomato or a ,brezee's 8,peerless60 ,leigh ,hunt1 speaking of vegetables1 says3-- 8,what a perpetual reproduction of the marvelous is carried on by nature1 and how utterly ignorant we are of the causes of the least and most disesteemed of the commonest vegetables2 and what a quantity of life and beauty1 and mystery1 and use1 and enjoyment is to be found in them1 composed out of all sorts of elements1 and shaped as if by the hands of fairies6 ,what workmanship1 with no apparent workman6 ,what consummate elegance1 though the result is but a radish or an onion60 ,the care and oversight of the vegetable as well as the flower garden1 frequently devolves upon women1 and as it costs no more time and labor to grow the most choice kinds1 ,i propose to give a selection of the varieties which are the best for home culture4 ,the seedsmen's catalogues present us with numerous varieties1 which appear quite bewildering1 but ,i have long cared for home vegetables1 and have learned what are the most desirable for my table4 ,in buying your seeds1 do not depend upon those purchased from peddlers' carts1 or from country stores2 they are not so certain to be pure and fresh4 ,seeds from selected stocks are far superior to those gathered at hap-hazard from fields and gardens4 ,so be sure1 and provide yourself with a catalogue from a reliable source1 and send thither for all you may desire4 ,asparagus heads the list of early vegetables2 it is almost the first green thing to show itself in the spring4 ,conover's ,colossal is very superior to the common kinds2 it will frequently send up from twenty to twenty-five stalks1 as large as a man's thumb1 from one plant4 ,but it requires high culture1 and much room to do this4 ,the plants should be set three to four feet apart each way1 and be thoroughly manured1 and salted in ,november4 ,early in ,march and ,april1 the soil should be stirred up with a three-pronged iron hand-fork4 ,thus treated1 you can grow ,asparagus as fine as any seen in ,fulton market1 ,new ,york4 ,bush ,beans4 ,the ,newington ,wonder and the ,refugee have been my dependence2 but last season ,i tried the ,dwarf ,wax--a waxen-yellow1 stringless pod1 and consider it far ahead of any other kind for table use4 ,it makes a delicious dish--nearly equal to green peas4 ,among ,pole ,beans1 the ,lima is not surpassed by any other kind2 but in northern ,new ,england the summers are too short to grow it in perfection1 so ,i substitute the ,dutch ,case-knife1 which is hardy and productive4 ,butter ,beans are also very good1 making the best succotash of any kind of ,bean4 ,giant ,wax ,beans will keep up the supply of string beans until frost comes2 their waxy yellow1 succulent pods1 if stripped up in small bits1 and boiled two hours1 will provide a most excellent dish for the table1 for many weeks4 ,beets4 ,early ,flat ,bassano has been the earliest variety grown2 but the ,dark ,red ,egyptian ,beet has proved to be ten days earlier than any other4 ,its color is of the deepest red1 and its flavor delicious4 ,the ,swiss ,chard1 or ,sea-,kale ,beet1 is a very desirable vegetable1 as its leaves can be boiled for greens all the season4 ,the thick1 white midribs of the leaves are said to be a good substitute for ,asparagus4 ,if cut frequently1 the leaves keep shooting up afresh until autumn4 ,cauliflower4 ,the best early variety is the ,early ,erfurt1 a compact1 dwarf kind4 ,le ,normand is of much larger growth1 and later in blooming4 ,these vegetables should have a place in every garden1 and it is vastly superior to the cabbage4 ,dr4 ,johnson1 of literary fame1 pronounced it the finest flower that ever bloomed4 ,cabbage4 ,the ,early ,jersey ,wakefield is considered the best among the early kinds1 as it rarely fails to head4 ,early ,winningstadt is the best for intermediate use2 and the ,premium ,flat ,dutch is considered unequaled for winter use4 ,the ,green ,globe ,savoy is the most tender1 and the finest flavored1 as a general rule2 the larger the head of cabbage1 the coarser is its flavor4 ,be sure and plant some cabbages for winter salad4 ,they are unsurpassed for this purpose1 and are far more nutritious if eaten uncooked4 ,cucumbers4 ,early ,russian ,cluster is the earliest kind one can grow2 but their flavor is not equal to the ,early ,white ,spine1 and the pickles made from the latter1 are superior4 ,the ,long ,green ,prickly is the firmest and best flavored2 but will not be ready for the table as soon as the others4 ,celery4 ,this vegetable demands more attention4 ,it can be easily raised by growing in rows1 and blanching in ridges1 if trenching is too much trouble4 ,incomparable ,dwarf ,white is the first2 of a very dwarf habit1 and solid4 ,boston ,market is very fine2 ,white ,solid is also desirable for its large size1 and crisp1 fine flavor4 ,carrots4 ,one must have a bed of these for seasoning soups1 and for the feathery green leaves to mingle with dishes of flowers1 and vases4 ,bliss' ,improved ,long ,orange is a great improvement on the older kinds2 is better flavored1 and of the richest color4 ,large ,white ,belgian is fine for those who like the vegetable served like squashes4 ,corn4 ,farmer's ,club ,sweet possesses a delicious flavor2 very tender and sweet4 ,moore's ,early ,concord ,sweet is a new variety1 obtained from crossing ,crosby's ,early with ,burr's ,improved1 and is said to be unsurpassed by any other kind1 either early or late4 ,trimble's ,sugar is a very fine variety for late purposes4 ,egg ,plant4 ,pekin ,new ,black is a variety from ,china1 which grows to the height of two feet1 with very ornamental foliage2 the fruit weighs from three to six pounds2 it is very prolific1 and of delicious flavor1 decidedly superior to any other kind known4 ,seed must be sown in a hot-bed1 in cold climates4 ,kohl ,rabi1 or ,turnip-rooted ,cabbage4 ,this vegetable is a cross between a ,turnip and a ,cabbage in its flavor and makes a nice dish4 ,the ,early ,white ,vienna is the best variety4 ,lettuce4 ,the ,early ,curled ,simpson is the best for spring use1 and is largely grown in the neighborhood of ,new ,york4 ,the ,large ,curled ,india is better for later use2 it does not run to seed so quickly as other kinds1 and will bear the sun better4 ,the ,green ,paris ,cos is the best of these varieties4 ,dickson's 8,all the ,year ,round0 is a valuable novelty4 ,melons4 ,skillman's ,fine ,netted takes first rank2 and for later use1 the ,white ,japan1 ,pine ,apple and ,green ,citron are the best4 ,black ,spanish ,water ,melon is of a thin rind1 and rich flavor4 ,mountain ,sprout is a larger and later variety4 ,the ,long ,persian1 imported by ,bayard ,taylor1 is a great acquisition to the middle and southern ,states2 is very large and of the most delicious flavor4 ,joe ,johnston ,water ,melon is also very desirable at the south2 its flesh is deep red1 and remarkably rich4 ,okra4 ,the ,improved ,dwarf ,green is better for home culture than the common variety usually grown2 it is also earlier1 and is equally productive4 ,the green pods of this vegetable are used in making the famous 8,gumbo0 of the southern ,states2 and are always desirable for every kind of soup4 ,onions4 ,yellow ,danvers has long held first rank for family use2 but now the seedsmen offer us rare imported varieties from ,italy4 ,early ,white ,naples is a distinct variety1 of mild flavor2 often the bulbs will weigh a pound2 white skins1 and very tender4 ,new ,giant ,rocca1 of ,naples1 has a brown skin1 delicate flavor1 and bulbs were exhibited in ,england which weighed three and a half pounds4 ,large ,italian ,red ,tripoli1 flavor mild and pleasant2 bulbs have grown to weigh two and a half pounds4 ,peas4 ,landreth's ,extra ,early is said to be the earliest for garden use1 and the best4 ,philadelphia ,extra ,early is also desirable2 but with some seedsmen only another name for ,landreth's4 ,little ,gem is very dwarf1 and of fine flavor2 grows only one foot high4 ,hundred-fold1 or ,cook's ,favorite1 is a first-class variety2 early1 and very prolific4 ,laxton's ,supreme is the earliest wrinkled pea1 and has the largest pods of any kind4 ,the ,champion is a late variety1 but very luxuriant1 and much the best family sort raised4 ,parsnips4 ,a new variety of these vegetables1 called the ,student1 is much sweeter1 and pleasanter in flavor1 than the older kinds4 ,potatoes4 ,early ,rose is as yet unsurpassed for table purposes1 both in its early ripening1 and its prolificness4 ,peerless is decidedly the best late potato in cultivation2 grows a very large size1 is of pearly whiteness1 and very delicious flavor2 it surely is the ne plus ultra of ,potatoes4 ,jersey ,peach ,blows are always good1 but do not yield so plentifully4 ,peppers4 ,sweet ,mountain ,peppers should be grown in every garden1 to flavor the pickles4 ,large ,bell are early and not as acrid as other kinds4 ,cayenne are quite small1 cone-shaped1 coral-red when ripe4 ,good for pepper sauce4 ,radishes4 ,of the ,early ,turnip-rooted varieties1 the ,scarlet olive-shaped and the ,white ,turnip-rooted are the best4 ,the ,long ,scarlet ,short ,top1 and the ,long ,white ,naples1 are the most desirable of the long-rooted sorts4 ,the ,rose-colored ,chinese is good for winter forcing4 ,spinach4 ,this vegetable comes so early that every garden should have a bed of it4 ,the ,flanders is the most desirable kind1 its leaves are the largest and the most succulent4 ,the ,new ,zealand ,spinach thrives best during the heat of summer4 ,sweet ,potatoes4 ,the ,nansemond has been the best kind to cultivate at the north2 but the ,queen of the ,south is now considered its superior4 ,squashes4 ,the summer varieties are the ,scolloped ,bush and the ,crook ,neck4 ,of the winter1 the ,boston ,marrow is the best early sort4 ,yokohama is also good2 but the ,hubbard excels them all1 and if kept in a dry place will not decay until ,june4 ,tomatoes4 ,general ,grant1 ,charter ,oak1 ,crimson ,cluster1 and the ,tilden have been held in high esteem2 but last year the ,trophy exceeded them all1 and is expected to hold the first rank4 ,the ,white ,apple ,tomato is of very delicious flavor1 and desirable to be eaten raw4 ,turnips4 ,the ,red ,top ,strap-leaved1 and the ,white ,strap-leaved are the best white-fleshed turnips1 either for early summer or winter purposes4 ,among the yellow-fleshed1 ,robertson's ,golden ,ball1 and ,early ,yellow ,finland are considered the finest grained1 and the most delicate flavored4 ,sweet ,herbs4 ,a bed of ,sage1 ,sweet ,marjoram1 ,lavender and ,caraway must not be forgotten2 all of them will grow readily from seeds1 if sown in beds of well-prepared garden soil4 ,the seeds are so small1 that they will not grow unless the earth is very finely pulverized4 ,excepting in the middle and southern ,states1 a hot-bed is required to start early plants1 both for flower and vegetable gardens4 ,boxes in the kitchen windows will do their work1 but a hot-bed is by all odds the easiest method of forcing plants for early vegetables4 ,directions for ,making and ,planting a ,hot-bed4 ,horse manure is the best for this purpose1 because its heating properties are more intense2 cow manure will do1 but the growth of the plants will not be as rapid4 ,for a week before using it1 turn it over every two or three days1 and if the sun is not hot enough to cause it to ferment1 pour pailsful of hot water over it1 the first time it is stirred up2 the next time throw out all the coarsest part of the litter4 ,when the whole heap smokes like a river on a frosty morning1 it is ready for use4 ,select a southeastern exposure1 where the north wind will not strike upon it2 a board fence at the north is a good protection4 ,build up the manure two or three feet in depth1 and from four to six inches longer and wider than the frame4 ,this can be made of boards fastened tightly together1 and should be higher at the back than in front1 so that it will present a slanting surface4 ,set the frame securely into the manure1 leaving enough outside to bank it up well from the frost4 ,add four to five inches of sandy loam1 thoroughly pulverized4 ,if it can be baked in the kitchen oven1 and then sifted1 it will be in a perfect condition1 and no weeds will grow in it4 ,place the sashes over it1 and let it heat up for two1 three or four days1 according to the warmth of the sun4 ,put your hand in to test the soil2 if it feels warm it is ready to receive the seeds4 ,the glass is now-a-days fitted into side sashes1 lapping at the edges1 without transverse sash2 one pane covers the other half an inch4 ,this gives less shade upon the plants from the sashes4 ,have your papers of seeds in a basket1 with little sticks split at the top to hold either the printed papers or written labels2 thus1 when your seeds are up1 you can tell an early or a late cabbage1 tomato1 etc4 ,also have a pan of common or scouring sand1 well warmed in the oven4 ,this is to scatter over the seeds1 and it will make them grow more quickly than loam4 ,plant your seeds in regular rows1 an inch1 at least1 apart4 ,thus planted1 you need not transplant all of them1 some can grow in the bed all summer4 ,radishes should be planted three inches apart4 ,scatter the warm sand over the seeds1 water thoroughly with a fine rose sprinkler1 with warmish water2 don't use cold at any time1 always treat your plants to a slightly warm shower4 ,rain never falls chilly cold4 ,when thoroughly wet1 spread newspapers all over them1 and for two or three days sprinkle the seeds every night through the newspapers4 ,this keeps the soil moist1 and the seeds will sprout very quickly4 ,in two days lettuce will show itself2 and as soon as the tiny seedlings are up1 the papers must be removed directly1 else they will damp off4 ,planting in sods has been recommended for those vegetables which1 having a top root1 would not transplant readily4 ,i have tried it with great success1 with melons and cucumbers4 ,sods can be cut from the orchard around the apple trees1 or from the road sides4 ,put them grass side down in the hot-bed1 and plant the seeds in the soil clinging to their roots4 ,cover them with sand4 ,water and shade with papers4 ,squashes1 ,corn and ,egg plants can be planted in the same way4 ,the sods can be put into1 or near a window in the barn1 and the seeds will sprout soon4 ,to transplant1 the sods can be cut into pieces1 and the plants in them placed in the holes prepared for them4 ,for ,melons and ,cucumbers1 they should be made very rich with manure2 the grass will soon decay1 and the vines will grow most rapidly4 ,transplanting4 ,this should always be done after sunset4 ,if the plants are removed at this time1 they will never know that they have changed their quarters4 ,i have transplanted tomatoes1 peppers1 lettuce1 etc41 after seven o'clock in the evening1 and not a leaf has wilted the next day4 ,rhubarb leaves are excellent to cover young plants that are planted by daylight2 they are a better protection from the sun than newspapers1 as they wilt1 and do not blow off4 ,care of ,hot-bed4 ,any one can make and plant a hot-bed1 but it requires more brains than a common laborer always possesses1 to take care of one4 ,one hour's neglect at noontime will scorch every tender plant2 the same time1 at night1 may freeze it4 ,every morning1 noon and night1 it should be visited4 ,if the night is chilly1 cover it tightly with old carpets1 mattings or boards2 and let them remain until the sun strikes clear and warm upon the sashes4 ,if the morning air is warm1 lift the glasses a little1 and by noontime admit more air4 ,don't keep the plants so warm that they will spindle up--nor so cool that they will chill4 ,you must exercise your common sense1 and thereby learn to keep just the right heat2 a little experience will soon teach you how to manage the sashes4 ,the weeds must not be allowed to grow1 and on a sunny day when the sashes can be removed1 pull them all up4 ,the ,gardener's ,monthly recommends the following plan for a miniature hot-bed1 for raising slips in the summer time3 8,get two or three boxes1 eighteen inches long and ten or twelve inches wide1 with a pane of glass to cover one exactly2 have a hole dug deep enough1 in a sunny location1 to place the boxes in on a level with the ground1 first taking off the bottoms of the boxes1 and fitting one closely on to the other2 fill up the first with fresh stable manure2 in the second1 place three or four inches of earth1 allowing space enough between the earth and the top of the box to set in the pots and leave three or four inches of space above it2 pour in a bucket of warm water1 and set on the glass2 let it ferment two or three days1 then fill the flower pots with yellow or silver sand1 and plant your cuttings2 whitewash1 or smear with whitening and water1 the under side of the glass2 set in the pots1 and cover with the glass40 ,of course1 some of the slips will die1 and they will need to be watered daily and aired4 ,i intend to try the process this season in raising plants for window gardening4 ,a dry-goods box will make a good small hot-bed4 ,saw off the side boards and the front one1 so that the sash will slide in obliquely2 put cleats on all sides to support the sash2 sink two feet into the ground2 fill up with fermenting manure and good sandy soil1 and you will find it large enough to raise tomatoes and peppers1 with a large supply of flower seeds and cuttings4 ,an old window sash can do duty for the glass4 ,a little ingenuity will help one greatly in making hot-beds out of little material4 ,a good kitchen garden is a capital investment for every family4 ,it requires labor and some brains to run it--but children will often supply the former1 and the housewife must not lack the latter4 ,it should not be left entirely to the mercies of ,sambo or ,patrick1 unless they have been well trained in its culture4 ,as ,i have said before1 do not expect that women can do the hard work of a garden--but they can plant the seed1 and pull the weeds--if they will not let them get the start early in the season4 8,one year's weeding makes seven years' seeding10 is an old but trite proverb4 ,hoe up the weeds when only three or four leaves at the most are visible1 and the hot sun will kill them off4 ,men must take care of the paths1 and prepare the soil4 ,we1 of the weaker sex1 can surely do the rest--if we please so to do4 ,one of the finest-vegetable gardens ,i ever saw1 was tended by a lady over sixty years of age1 and so crippled1 by an accident1 that she could not walk without a crutch4 ,yet1 she planted corn and cucumbers2 beets and beans2 potatoes and peppers2 tomatoes and turnips2 squashes and spinach2 and her garden was always ahead of all her neighbors4 ,she kept her beds without a weed1 and her walks were as hard as if rolled--no weed dared show its tiny head long enough to mar their surface4 ,she was a lady1 delicate1 refined and lovely1 and her flowers and strawberries fully equaled her vegetables4 ,will not our fair sisters strive to imitate her example8 ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,arrangement ,,of ,,bouquets ,,and ,,vases4 ,flowers in ,churches4 ,it has been said that a person must possess the 8knack0--must have a taste1 an eye for colors--in order to arrange flowers in bouquets1 baskets1 etc41 artistically4 ,and1 doubtless1 there is a great deal of truth in the remark4 ,one who does possess this 8knack0 can walk through a garden1 gathering the flowers here and there1 and arranging them with a perfect blending of color1 which will result in a faultless bouquet2 while another1 with the same flowers1 fails utterly to produce a charming effect4 ,so1 one sees that the art of flower arranging is too fine and delicate to be reduced to rules4 ,yet1 there are a few which may be of use to flower lovers who are not gifted with a truly artistic eye4 ,all flowers will not mix readily1 but are only seen in perfection when arranged by themselves4 ,wild flowers will not mingle tastefully with their cultivated brethren1 but must be arranged by themselves4 ,a bouquet of ,laurel is very beautiful2 but mingle with it the coral and topaz bells of the ,columbine and you spoil its effect4 ,and ,gentians1 ,azaleas1 ,may-flowers1 and last1 but not least1 the pearly white ,water ,lily1 are seen to the best advantage when in clusters by themselves4 ,lilies of the ,valley require only a background of their own green leaves1 to show forth most charmingly their perfect beauty4 ,balsams can only be arranged in flat dishes1 with a mingling of ,rose ,geranium leaves to add the fragrance which they lack4 ,sweet ,peas1 so soft and liquid in tint1 with their exquisite rose colors1 purple and browns1 and pearly whites1 are ruined if mingled with dazzling ,geraniums or ,verbenas4 ,put them in a tall stemmed glass1 and cover them with the feathery mist of the ,oliver1 or ,gypsophila ,muralis1 then they will glow like a sun-set cloud at eve4 ,royal ,lilies must be placed in tall vases or glasses1 and ,roses blend perfectly with them1 while ,fuchsias will droop lovingly between them4 ,give ,pansies and ,anemones a tiny vase by themselves1 and see how glorious they are4 ,when you have a large basket of flowers to arrange1 make a harmonious blending4 ,put the celestial blues of the ,larkspurs beside the brilliant scarlets of the ,verbenas and ,geraniums2 then add the snowy whiteness of some ,phlox or ,candytuft1 and judge for yourself of the effectiveness of the tri-color4 ,yellow is very useful in the vivid arrangement of bouquets and vases4 ,place it beside the ruby-red ,fuchsias1 near to the royal purple ,verbenas1 and see how it enhances the brightness of their hues4 ,among the white ,roses1 mingle pink ,verbenas or ,geraniums2 and with royal purple add cream-colored ,stocks or ,roses2 then fill in with the neutral tints of the ,mignonette1 ,ageratum1 ,heliotrope1 etc41 etc41--soft and sweet--and they will heighten the contrast of the more gorgeous hues1 yet do not conflict with them4 ,a ,sofrano rose bud1 a sprig of ,mignonette1 a ,tuberose1 and a bit of scarlet ,verbena1 mingled with ,heliotrope and sweet ,verbena1 and some feathery green leaves1 make as perfect a bouquet as one can desire to see4 ,if flowers could only pose themselves1 it would be a great saving of trouble to many flower raisers--and doubtless the effect would be very charming2 but this pleasure is denied to them1 and our ignorant fingers put them hither and thither1 often in most horrid contrasts and shadings4 ,remember this one rule--never put blue and purple together2 never let crimson and scarlet be in juxtaposition2 nor bright pink and scarlet4 ,arrange your flowers in shadings of the same color1 or in contrasts1 with a plentiful mixture of white and neutral tints4 ,in shading flat dishes of flowers1 place the darkest in the center and shade out to white4 ,the present fashion among florists is to arrange bouquets1 baskets1 etc41 so as to consume as many flowers as possible2 and the crowding together of such quantities produces stiffness and formality--where lightness and gracefulness should be especially sought for4 ,the foliage belonging to each plant is1 usually1 the best adapted to its peculiar beauty4 ,the ,camellia1 without its leaves1 is a chilly1 cold flower2 but combined with its rich1 glossy foliage1 it produces a charming effect4 ,the contrast of their perfectly curved lines and their harmonious substance1 reveal the pure beauty of the flower4 ,bouquets for the hand should not be composed of solid1 heavy flowers1 but of those of delicate structure1 and of exquisite fragrance4 ,such bouquets naturally undergo close inspection1 and they should consist of rare ferns and bright flowers1 intermingled with those that are sweet as well as lovely4 ,always place the most gorgeous colors in the center of bouquet1 vase or basket1 and shade out into perfect whiteness1 relieved by green foliage4 ,if you desire to arrange a central piece for a dinner or supper table1 at its base place the feathery leaves of ferns1 lycopods1 etc41 and twine around the vase light1 graceful vines4 ,in the center arrange scarlet flowers1 mingled with blue and white1 and edge the vase with the veined leaves of the ,ornamental ,foliage ,plants4 ,these plants are very useful in arranging floral devices2 they provide the snowy whiteness and the rich wine-red colors of flowers4 ,experience is the best teacher in directing us to arrange our flowers most advantageously4 ,and we need to heed her teachings in every department of life4 ,a lovely dish of flowers can be made out of soup1 oyster and preserve plates4 ,take the largest sized deep plate your pantry will give1 fill it with scouring sand1 thoroughly wet2 edge it with the leaves of some tri-colored ,geranium1 or with the bright-hued ,achyranthus1 mingled with some white flowers--,feverfew1 ,candytuft1 or ,sweet ,alyssum will do--cover the stems with another soup plate1 not so large1 so that the flowers and leaves will project beyond it2 fill it as before directed1 and edge it with some yellow flowers1 ,chlora1 ,oxura1 ,calceolaria--or any you can select4 ,if the ,geranium leaves were used before1 mingle with these the wine-red leaves of the ,variegated ,plants4 ,proceed as before1 and place on the edge of the dish bright blue ,delphiniums1 ,blue ,salvia1 or the lovely ,forget-,me-,not1 mingled with sweet-scented ,geranium leaves4 ,in the center add a large cluster of scarlet ,geraniums1 ,verbenas1 etc41 mingled with white flowers4 ,a vase of ,sweet ,peas can crown the whole2 and over it all1 mingle the misty ,oliver or ,gypsophila ,muralis1 whose soft veil ,i deem indispensable4 ,the effect is truly artistic6 ,purple flowers can be substituted for the blue1 and you can make your own selection of colors and flowers4 ,the fairy bells of the ,fuchsias are very lovely among the silvery-edged leaves4 ,tropolums mingle prettily with the darker leaves4 ,a dish of flowers thus arranged will be 8a thing of joy0 for two or three days4 ,the sand can be wet every day with tepid water4 ,it will make a beautiful ornament for a dinner or supper table4 ,flowers are always delightful when arranged in the dining room4 ,the wise man of ,queen ,elizabeth's court--the immortal ,bacon--never sat at his table without flowers4 ,in his 8,essays10 ,leigh ,hunt says3 8,what ornament is there--what supply of light or beauty could we discover1 at once so exquisite and so cheap1 that should furnish our table with a grace precious in the eyes of the most intelligent80 ,set flowers on your table1 a whole nosegay if you can get it1 or but two or three1 or a single flower--a rose1 a pink1 even a daisy1 ay1 or a bunch of clover and a handful of flowering grasses1 one of the most elegant as well as the cheapest of nature's productions--and you will have something on your table that will remind you of the beauties of ,god's creation1 and give you a link with the poets and sages that have done it most honor4 ,put but a rose1 or a lily1 or a violet on your table1 and you and ,lord ,bacon have a custom in common1 for he was in the habit of having the flowers in season set upon his table1 morning1 noon and night4 ,the fashions of the garments of heaven and earth endure forever1 and you may adorn your table with specimens of their drapery--with flowers out of the fields and golden beams out of the blue ether4 ,the first new boughs in spring1 plucked and put into a vase1 have often an effect that may compete with flowers themselves1 considering their novelty2 and indeed1 8leaves would be counted flowers if earth had none40 ,does any reader fancy that to help himself to comforts like these1 would be 8trifling08 ,oh1 let him not so condescend to the ignorance of the proud or envious4 ,if this were trifling1 then was ,bacon a trifler1 also the great ,cond1 and the old republican ,ludlow1 and all the great and good spirits that have loved flowers1 and ,milton's ,adam1 nay heaven itself1 for heaven made these harmless elegancies1 and blessed them with the universal good-will of the wise and innocent4 ,and surely there is nothing more interesting than the world of flowers4 ,earth1 with seemingly careless prodigality1 throws them out1 masterpieces of infinite finish--all different1 each perfect4 ,nothing in life has afforded so much delight to so many hearts2 and nothing has gladdened and brightened so many eyes6 ,cutting and ,preserving ,flowers4 ,flowers should never be cut during the intense heat of the day1 but either while wet with dew in the early morn1 or after sunset1 when the falling dew has revived them4 ,do not break them off harshly1 but cut them with a knife or scissors2 the former is the best1 as it cuts the cleanest1 and does not lacerate the minute tubes which draw up the water that nourishes the flower2 if these pores or tubes are closed up the flower soon withers4 ,i find sand far cleaner to place them in than pure water2 that soon becomes disagreeable1 while the sand can be thoroughly wet every morn1 and keep for weeks with no unpleasant odor about it4 ,if flowers are desired to be kept a great while1 the ends of the stalks should be cut off a little every time you change the water1 and a pinch of saltpetre and salt tends to prevent their decay4 ,soap suds1 which have been widely recommended1 spoil the flowers very quickly4 ,warm water will revive wilted flowers2 put the bouquet into water warm to the hand1 let it remain for an hour or more1 then cut off the stalks a little and put into fresh warm water1 only lukewarm1 and they will brighten wonderfully4 ,a few drops of liquid ammonia added to the water are said to revive faded flowers1 but ,i have never tried the remedy4 ,if sand cannot be obtained1 put a few bits of charcoal in the water1 or fill the vase with them and water1 and put the stalks between them2 add fresh water every day1 turning out the old1 and your flowers will keep a week or more4 ,never turn ice water into the vases1 it chills the life out of the flowers--is murder in the first degree4 ,to be sure1 the ice pitcher is always at hand1 but keep its contents away from your vases4 ,rain water is always the best for watering plants1 or for keeping fresh flowers1 and it should be given a little warm1 even if the tea-kettle has to be resorted to to render it so4 ,while gathering flowers1 don't pick such quantities that some will wither before they can be placed in water4 ,if you have too many to care for directly1 put them on a tray and sprinkle them with water1 then they will not wither and become limp4 ,geranium leaves once withered never regain their fresh beauty1 and ,pansies once curled up will never unroll in perfect loveliness4 ,don't be chary of picking your flowers--the more you gather the more you will have4 ,give them to all your friends--a bounteous giver is always rewarded4 ,in selecting vases1 don't buy the gorgeous flowered china ware1 or the brilliant ,bohemian glass1 but the pure1 transparent glass that shows the twining stems of the flowers1 and the ivory white ,parian marble1 around which the graceful vines will clasp so tenderly4 ,silver and bronze are always beautiful1 but a tasteful straw basket1 holding a glass dish filled with flowers1 will often produce as lovely an effect as the precious metals4 ,flowers in ,churches4 ,in adorning the ,communion ,table or the ,font with flowers1 we should select those that are bright and gorgeous1 as such colors were used by the artists of the middle ages1 and from time immemorial there has been a symbolism1 especially in religious ceremonies and decorations4 ,red is the symbol of ,divine love2 white1 of ,divine wisdom2 yellow is a symbol of the revelation of the love and wisdom of ,god2 blue1 of ,divine eternity and of human immortality4 ,our ,puritan forefathers1 in fleeing from the persecutions and ceremonies of an established ,church1 cast from them all outward adornments2 we1 of these later days1 desire to see our churches adorned with the 8,green ,things of the ,earth10 and the practice of adorning our churches with vases and baskets of flowers is becoming quite universal4 ,i hope it will spread1 until every little village church can boast of its sweet floral adornments1 from the earliest ,may flowers of the ,spring to the crosses and crowns of 8,christmas ,greens40 ,it is but little labor for several ladies in each congregation to agree to furnish the flowers4 ,a large marble 8tazza0 can be purchased either out of the church funds1 or through the benevolence of the rich of the parish4 ,to fill these every ,sunday morn with all that is lovely and sweet1 cannot but be a work of love4 ,i recall a village church which ,i once attended1 whose pulpit was made beautiful with large vases of ,roses and ,spireas1 mingled with the trailing vines of the ,money ,wort4 ,the old deacon brought them in1 with an half-concealed air of pride1 and placed them on each side of the pulpit cushion1 upon which lay the ,bible4 ,his daughter arranged them from the flowers that were in season every week1 and he delighted to carry her floral offering to the ,lord1 and lay it upon ,his altar4 8,if there is any kind of adornment which more than another seems fitted to ,god's house1 it is that thoughtful use of the #8,green ,things of the ,earth4'0 ,flowers are the painted sculpturings of nature--the shapes and colors of beauty1 which the ,creator has lavished upon the world--and surely they can never be employed for a better purpose4 ,in the church1 flowers suggest thoughts that are in unison with the occasion1 and the time and care thus bestowed on the adornment of the church are not without their reward4 ,pious thoughts arise while skillful fingers are busy with the work which1 as it is done for the sake of ,god's honor1 must1 from its very nature1 be linked with good to all concerned in it4 8,whoso offereth me praise1 glorifieth me40 8,bring flowers to the shrine where we kneel in prayer1 ,they are nature's offering1 their place is there6 ,they speak of hope1 to the fainting heart1 ,with a voice of comfort they come and part2 ,they sleep in dust through the wintry hours1 ,they break forth in glory--bring flowers1 bright flowers40 ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,general ,,management ,,of ,,the ,,garden4 ,the ,soil ,best ,adapted to its ,growth4 ,the most desirable soil for flowers1 particularly for ,annuals1 ,perennials1 etc41 is a mellow loam1 that will not bake down and crack open under the influence of hard showers and hot suns4 ,if you do not possess a good soil1 why1 of course1 you must do the best you can1 and you can improve a stiff1 clayey soil by adding sand or ashes and manure4 ,a flower garden must have good drainage2 if water settles upon its surface1 and freezes and thaws during the winter1 you may be sure that your plants will not survive4 ,there is no use in trying to grow flowers in poor soil2 but every one can make a small compost heap1 in an out-of-the-way corner1 and give it all the soap suds on washing days that are not needed on the borders4 ,when the leaves fall1 secure all you can2 hire a small boy to gather them for you1 and put them on the pile2 they are said to be the very poetry of manure--certainly1 they contain the best elements of flower food4 ,add to this heap the weeds that are collected1 but don't have any seed-pods among them2 throw upon it all the slops from the house1 and1 by the next year1 you will have good plant food4 ,it must be turned over several times so as to expose it to the action of the air4 ,a load of grass sods from the meadow is the best foundation for such a 8bank40 ,to use this season1 procure a large barrel1 and fill it up with as good soil as your garden can boast1 then turn into it1 every morning1 the slops from the chambers4 ,no disagreeable odor will arise from it1 but a rich soil will be made4 ,use it carefully1 putting a few tablespoonsful about the roots of the plants1 and digging them in1 so as not to touch the stems4 ,dig this about the roots of your ,geraniums1 ,roses1 ,verbenas1 ,pansies1 etc41 not letting it come in direct contact with the tender roots1 and you need not complain of the poverty of the soil2 while the rich blooms of your flowers will fully repay the extra labor4 ,the barrel can be hid away under vines2 and1 as the earth is used up1 add more to it4 ,the ,japanese and ,chinese gardeners can teach us a lesson in these matters4 ,nothing is wasted in their country1 and their flower gardens are wonderfully beautiful and gorgeous4 8,eternal vigilance10 ,gen4 ,jackson's pet phrase1 applies particularly to gardening4 ,one cannot grow fine flowers without some labor2 and you will soon learn that constant efforts are needed to make the flowers grow into fine-shaped plants1 filled with blossoms4 ,you cannot garden one week1 and let it alone the next2 but you must watch it1 and water it1 and weed it1 daily1 if you would be successful4 ,it requires as much care to cultivate a handsome garden1 as to grow cabbages1 melons and tomatoes1 and no more4 ,an open exposure is desirable1 where the sun will have free access to the plants2 there are some flowers like ,fuchsias1 ,primroses1 ,daisies1 ,pansies1 etc41 which bloom far better in beds that are sheltered from the noonday sun2 and their tastes should be gratified4 ,yet nearly all plants love the sun1 and grow better1 if directly under its influence4 ,selection and ,sowing of ,seeds4 ,this is a matter of importance to amateur gardeners1 who usually desire the handsomest kinds that can be grown4 ,it takes no more time and care to grow a small1 poor1 single flower than a rich1 double variety2 and the cost is but little more4 ,always purchase your seeds of reliable1 well-known seedsmen1 and do not content yourself with those offered by small traders4 ,seed raisers who make it a business1 raise only the finest kinds2 the poorer sorts do not pay4 ,hundreds of dollars worth of good seeds are annually wasted because the growers do not know how to plant them4 ,they require a very finely pulverized soil2 and1 if the coarser particles are sifted out1 the seeds will germinate more surely4 ,in the ,chapter on ,,annuals1 minute directions are given for sowing seeds4 ,since writing it1 ,i have sowed sixty1 or more1 different varieties1 and hardly one has failed to germinate4 ,every seed of some varieties has come 8up40 ,there is no difficulty in their culture1 if you will only take a little pains in planting them1 and shield them from the sun1 with newspapers1 for two or three days4 ,weeding4 ,this is usually considered a terror2 but if you will use a small rake and hoe1 as heretofore advised1 every morning1 for a few minutes1 you will keep the upperhand of them4 ,the first leaves of weeds or plants are their sole nourishment2 cut them off and the young weeds must die1 however tenacious of life they may be4 ,watering4 ,leaves absorb and give out moisture1 and inhale and exhale air2 they are the lungs of every plant1 and if they are destroyed the whole plant suffers4 ,the pores in the leaves of all plants1 by which they transmit air and moisture1 are exceedingly small1 and liable to be filled up if exposed to smoke and dust2 therefore1 if there are not plentiful showers1 you must water them freely every evening4 ,it is of but little use to give water after the sun has risen4 ,in this hot1 dry climate the watering pot is a necessity1 and tubs of water should be drawn from hydrant or pump every morning1 and allowed to set in the sun1 to take off the chill2 then1 after seven o'clock ,p4 ,m41 apply it4 ,planting ,out1 ,pruning1 etc4 ,the branches and leaves of plants rarely touch one another while growing1 and you should learn from them not to crowd your plants in bed or border2 for air and light are quite as needful as water and good soil4 ,when shrubs produce an abundance of foliage and no flowers1 either remove them to a purer soil1 or cut through some of the principal roots4 ,root-shortening is often resorted to1 by florists1 to force plants to bloom4 ,by checking the growth of plants1 you throw strength into the flowers4 ,all shrubs produce their flowers on the terminal points of the branches2 after the bloom is past1 if these are pinched off1 you will have two or three branches for one in the succeeding year4 ,all plants are in their most vigorous growth while in flower1 and should never be transplanted at that time1 for it will check their growth1 if it does not kill them4 ,this is the time for taking cuttings1 as they are then most ready to send forth roots4 ,the throwing off of its leaves by a newly planted cutting1 is a sign that it has begun to grow1 while if the leaves wither on the stem1 it shows that the cutting had not strength enough to send forth shoots4 ,you can train a plant into any shape you please1 by pinching off the shoots1 for the plant will avenge itself by sending forth two or three more1 in lieu of the one you pinched in4 ,a plant pinched in ,june will flower in ,july2 if pinched in ,july1 it will flower in ,august4 ,all buds proceed from the tips1 and by pinching in ,carnations1 ,bouvardias1 ,fuchsias1 etc41 their flowers will be put back and they need not be allowed to bloom until autumn4 ,this method of training will produce thick1 bushy plants1 filled with many small shoots1 which1 when left unmolested1 will produce hundreds of buds and flowers4 ,to procure a succession of ,roses1 prune down to three eyes on all the branches of some bushes1 as soon as the buds begin to expand2 defer the same operation with others1 until the leaves are expanding2 on the former bushes the three buds will bear early flowers2 in the latter1 they will not begin to expand until the others are in full foliage1 and will bloom later in the season4 ,dry1 east winds are very injurious to plant life1 by absorbing the moisture from the leaves of the plants more quickly than they are able to give it out2 they will often wither the plants as badly as a frost1 and should be guarded against in the same way4 ,cover all your plants with papers1 boxes1 etc41 if they are so unfortunate as to be exposed to it4 ,i have seen an east wind nearly ruin a flourishing bed of ,verbenas and ,heliotropes in the month of ,may4 ,if your grass-plat becomes overrun with moss1 manure the surface1 and the grass will soon catch in and expel the intruder4 ,plants1 when in bloom1 have all their juices in the most perfect state2 therefore cut all aromatic and medicinal herbs just as they begin to send up flowering stalks4 ,profuse flowering exhausts the strength of plants2 therefore remove all seed pods that are not especially desired for seed4 ,do this to all perennials1 and you will have much finer blossoms the ensuing season4 ,saving of ,seeds4 ,though the gathering of seeds reminds us that the beauty of the flower is gone1 it is a pleasing occupation1 because it promises us pleasure for another year4 ,as an usual thing it is better to depend upon the seedsmen for your supply1 but if you have very fine flowers1 choose two or three plants and pick off all the side buds1 sending the whole strength of the plant into two or three blossoms at the most2 frequently one is quite enough4 ,tie up the plants with colored yarn1 so that no one will pick them2 pull up all the single flowers that might mix with them1 and you may be quite sure of saving good seed4 ,gather them on a dry day1 when the seeds are thoroughly dry4 ,seeds preserved in the seed vessel are more clumsy to pack away than those which are cleaned1 but they are said to keep fresher4 ,when ready to sow them1 clean them by passing them through sieves1 having holes large enough to let the dust escape and retain the seeds4 ,small sieves can be made of a thin bit of pasteboard cut in a circular form1 and the edges turned up1 then pierce the bottom of it with holes made with a pin or a darning needle4 ,make several different sized sieves1 and rub the seeds through the different ones4 ,a lady can make a small cabinet of pasteboard1 with as many drawers in it as there are letters of the alphabet1 and as she ties up the packets1 each can be put into its corresponding drawer2 or a paper bag with each letter of the alphabet marked upon it1 can hold the seeds until desired for planting4 ,preparing ,pots4 ,if new pots are used for any kind of seeds or plants1 they should be soaked in water for a few hours1 as they will otherwise suck away the moisture from the earth1 and nothing is worse than to water seeds too often1 or let them become dried up4 ,all empty pots should be washed and cleaned before using again4 ,taking up and ,preserving ,flowers in ,winter4 ,one is often in a great quandary to know what to do with large bushes of ,geraniums1 ,roses1 ,feverfews1 ,heliotropes1 etc41 that have grown so finely all summer1 and now the frost threatens to lay them low forever4 ,all the plants that have a woody nature1 can be preserved in a dry1 cool1 perfectly dark cellar4 ,last autumn1 ,i had a splendid bed of ,zonale ,geraniums--every color and hue1 and some fifteen plants4 ,what should ,i do with them8 ,i could not bear to lose them forever6 ,so ,i took a large box1 and filled it with a light soil1 and planted the roots in it1 first cutting off all the tender branches1 and leaving none over twelve or fifteen inches long2 on these the leaves were left1 but every blossom was cut away4 ,the box was placed in a cold1 damp1 perfectly dark cellar1 where potatoes never freeze2 no water was given it the whole winter1 and the first of ,may it was brought up with every root alive4 ,the leaves had all fallen1 and the stems were dead down three or more inches4 ,i cut them back six inches1 and bright leaves are now starting from every branch4 ,i live in the coldest climate in ,new ,england1 where one has to fight for flowers or fruits4 8,nine months of winter1 and three months of spring10 describes the rigorous climate1 and all ,roses excepting the tender ,teas1 will live under sods4 ,they are cut from the meadows or road sides early in ,november2 then the bushes are carefully laid down2 and the sods are placed over them grass side up4 ,last winter there was but little snow1 but my roses kept finely4 ,a large shovelful of manure was thrown around the roots before the branches were laid down4 ,as the sods were being placed over the ,roses1 ,i laid a small piece over two ,feverfews that grew near1 and they are both alive4 ,they will live out in milder climates1 but are rarely known to do so in this frigid zone1 under ,mt4 ,washington's shadow4 ,fuchsias and ,heliotropes can be kept in boxes in the same manner4 ,also ,oleanders1 ,sweet ,verbenas1 and nearly all flowers but ,verbenas2 they require light1 heat and moisture to live4 ,zonale ,geraniums can be wintered in most cellars1 if the earth is shaken from the roots1 and they are tied up by them to the beams of the cellar4 ,all blossoms should be cut off1 or the sap that is in the branches will cause them to bloom1 and thus rob the roots of the strength they need to live on through the winter4 ,a damp cellar will cause them to decay4 ,scarlet ,salvias can be kept in the same way4 ,roses and ,geraniums1 etc41 can be buried in trenches4 ,dig it two and a-half feet in depth1 and where the water will not settle2 lay in the plants1 first throwing in a few shovelsful of dried leaves1 or boards can be laid over the plants2 fill in with sandy loam1 and finish off with a ridge that will carry off the water4 ,if the trench is lined with straw before the plants are laid in1 they are less liable to decay4 ,it is no use trying to make 8window gardens0 out of plants that have flowered all summer4 ,they must have a season of rest1 and they are only desirable for another summer after they have slept away the winter in the cool1 dark cellar4 ,sleep of ,flowers4 ,it is said that nearly all flowers sleep at night4 ,the ,marigold goes to sleep with the sun1 and awakes at its bidding4 ,the ,dandelion shuts tightly its bright blossoms before nine in the evening1 and does not fully open them until at six in the morning4 ,the ,daisy closes its flowers in the evening1 and opens its 8day's eye0 to meet the earliest beams of the rising sun4 ,the ,goat's ,beard wakes at three in the morning1 and goes to sleep by five or six in the afternoon4 ,the ,crocus1 ,tulip and many others sleep peacefully at night4 ,the ,ivy-leaved ,lettuce awakes at eight in the morn1 and closes forever by four in the afternoon4 ,the ,night ,blooming ,cereus turns night into day2 it expands its magnificent fragrant chalices in the twilight1 is fully blown at midnight1 and sleeps never to awake again at the dawn of the morning4 ,in a ,clover field1 not a leaf opens until touched by the sun's rays4 ,an ,english florist has closely watched the habits of the flowers1 and thus reports concerning them4 ,insects4 ,insects abound in every month of the year1 but they are especially annoying in ,summer time4 ,with the first warm days they appear in numbers1 and cover the ,roses1 etc4 ,rain causes them to disappear1 but a dry1 east wind increases them4 ,a small painter's brush1 dipped in quassia or aloes water1 will brush them off and destroy them4 ,the caterpillars of many moths and butterflies are destructive in the garden1 and one death in the ,spring will save much warfare2 so if you see one resting on a stem or leaf1 with folded wings1 it is probably a female and should be killed directly4 ,if one is found dead on a plant1 she has doubtless laid her eggs1 and you must search for them underneath the leaves and burn them4 ,a garden syringe or engine is the best weapon with which to wage warfare against both aphides and caterpillars4 ,you must hold the pipe close to the plant1 and pump hard1 so as to bring a considerable stream upon it1 and it will soon be free from them4 ,every time you use it1 you should rake the earth away from under the plants1 and trample upon the insects you have washed off4 ,earwigs are very destructive insects4 ,their favorite food is the petals of roses1 pinks1 fuchsias1 dahlias1 etc4 ,they eat at night1 and in the daytime hide away in the dark vegetation4 ,they can be caught by driving stakes into the ground and inverting a flower-pot directly over them1 leaving just room for them to crawl under1 and then look for and destroy them every morning4 ,grubs on orchard trees and small fruits1 will sometimes spoil the whole harvest2 but if a bonfire is made with dry sticks and weeds on the windward side of the orchard1 the smoke will blow among the trees and destroy hundreds1 while the flames will attract many moths4 ,make the fire after nightfall4 ,wasps destroy a quantity of fruit1 and all that you can kill in the spring will save a swarm in the autumn4 ,but be careful about letting them sting you1 for the smart is severe4 ,if stung1 get out the blue-bag from the laundry1 and rub it well into the sting1 or cover the spot with soft soap1 or liquid ammonia1 to neutralize the acid of the poison4 ,saleratus wet and rubbed on the wound will also mitigate the pain4 ,cherish the little black and red lady-bug1 for it will destroy many green lice1 or aphides4 ,they are often to be found on the currant bushes1 and ,i always catch them and give them a home among my roses and geraniums4 ,toads are among the best friends that we can cultivate1 so be sure to treat them with kindness4 ,they may eat a few strawberries1 but let them have that privilege in return for the immense quantities of insects they will also eat4 ,if you can have none in your garden1 it is well to seek for them in your walks1 and bring them home1 handling them carefully1 for though they have no power to injure you1 being perfectly harmless1 you can easily kill them4 ,i have a portly couple of them who live under my front door-step1 and nightly come forth to feed upon my enemies--the noxious insects--eating bugs1 grubs1 moths1 millipedes1 and caterpillars4 ,bees1 of various kinds1 are useful in spreading the pollen1 so be sure to bid them welcome to all the hidden sweets your flowers contain4 ,cultivate the ,beautiful4 8,flowers seem intended for the solace of ordinary humanity4 ,children love them2 quiet1 tender1 contented1 ordinary people love them as they grow2 luxurious and disorderly people rejoice in them gathered4 ,they are the cottager's treasure1 and1 in the crowded town1 mark1 as with a little broken fragment of rainbow1 the windows of the workers1 in whose hearts rests the covenant of peace4 ,to the child and the girl1 to the peasant and manufacturing operative1 to the grisette and the nun1 the lover and the monk1 they are precious always40 ,thus writes ,ruskin1 the prose poet of the century4 ,the cultivation of 8,the ,beautiful0 should be the desire of every woman's heart4 ,gthe's sentiment1 8,we should do our utmost to encourage the ,beautiful1 for the useful encourages itself10 should be our watchword4 ,there are few women who do not take delight in flowers1 and the object of this little book is to encourage them to cultivate them around and about their own homes1 where their fragrance will delight every one that passes by them4 ,they speak to us of love and joy2 of hope and peace2 of humility and confidence2 and also of bitter sorrow and grief--for they are associated with those who have passed away1 and whose loss has darkened the horizon of our lives4 ,they also teach us of the resurrection of the dead1 and the life immortal that fadeth not away4 ,they adorn the soldier's grave2 they circle the brow of loveliness2 they crown the festive hall2 they are everywhere1 and are closely mingled with both joy and sorrow4 ,they are not a necessity to many of us2 but they teach us to live nearer to ,god4 ,truly ,mrs4 ,howitt writes of them3 8,our outward life requires them not1 ,then wherefore have they birth8 ,to minister delight to man1 ,to beautify the earth6 ,to comfort man--to whisper hope1 ,where'er his faith is dim1 ,for whoso careth for the flowers1 ,will much more care for ,him60 ,i truly pity those who cannot turn from the hurry of business with all its corroding cares1 from the pomp of wealth1 and the gay devices of fashion1 and feast their senses and their souls upon the sight and perfume of a flower6 ,far better to teach our daughters to cultivate roses on the cheeks1 and in their gardens1 to ornament their rooms with the fragrance and beauty of roses and lilies1 and all the gorgeous sisterhood of flowers1 than to make ruffles1 and puffs1 and plaits and endless puckers wherewith to adorn themselves4 ,children can easily be taught to love flowers1 and the taste can never be used to deteriorate the character4 ,linnus1 the renowned ,swedish botanist1 was the son of a poor country clergyman1 who had a small flower-garden1 in which he cultivated all the flowers which he could procure1 and his means would permit4 ,from the earliest childhood he taught his son to love them1 cultivate them1 and rejoice with intense delight in their rich and varied colorings4 ,in this way he created in him the tastes and desires which made him the first botanist and naturalist of his age4 ,,finis4 ,transcriber's ,notes3 ,italics are shown thus3 sloping4 ,bold type is thus3 strong4 ,variations in spelling and hyphenation are retained4 ,perceived typographical errors have been changed4