74 State Horticnltiiral Society. 



As cities came to usurp the freedom of country life, and ground be- 

 came too expensive for front yards, city people who loved flowers and 

 whose front yards were only brick sidewalks, were obliged to put their 

 plants and seeds in the rear, if they had any at all, and so grew the fashion 

 of back door flower gardens. 



The silly country man who visited his city cousin observed the rear 

 flower growing, went home, despoiled his front yard and did his utmost 

 to conceal his shrubs and blossoms, as, if they were things he was ver> 

 much ashamed of, until the passer-by in the country no longer looked 

 on beautiful flowering shrubs and cheerful annuals, but instead beheld 

 stretches of bare green grass, like a meadow until the sun of summer came 

 and scorched it brown, when it became a tangly, withered oft'ense to 

 the human vision. How prettily a bit of bright color might have relieved 

 this somberness, but the eye sought for it in vain. 



Imitation is said to be complimentary, and may sometimes be for- 

 given, but the floral faddist should not be encouraged. Put aside the 

 catalog that tells you what flowers are to be fashionable this year, and 

 give your order to the firm which simply advertises their wares and 

 tells you how to grow seeds and to care for shrubs and plants. 



In reference to planting, the only rigid rule to be observed is in 

 regard to time of planting and condition of soil. Most shrubs will do 

 better if planted deep in good, rich, but not heavy soil. It is best to 

 provide root drainage for most shrubs ; for roses this is absolutely neces- 

 sary unless the soil is of the deepest and richest loam. 



Deep planting does not do for such shrubs as have their rootlets near 

 the top of the ground. A snowball will thrive best when not set too 

 deeply. I find that roses do best when provided with leaf mould, a good 

 substitute for wdiich is well rotted chip dirt. It is well to mulch roses 

 the first year with old straw or hay and they like extra feeding in the 

 way of liquid applications, or of commercial fertilizers. Most small 

 seeds require merely to be sown on top of the soil with no earth covering 

 whatever. Such seeds as those of the popy, petunia, Kenilworth ivy and 

 all others of similar size will sink into the porous soil, take root and pfrow 

 best if not covered. Sweet peas must be planted very early and deep, five 

 inches is not too deep, and March is not too early. Asters are as easily 

 grown as lettuce, and in beds prepared quite the same ; if the soil is good 

 and the seeds sown in April, you may expect a fine display of flowers. 

 Bulbs in this climate should be planted late in October or early in Novem- 

 ber. I find that nearly all the hardy bulbs thrive best for me when not 

 often disturbed. Some florists recommend frequent replanting for change 

 of soil conditions, but my experience is that a good bulb will grow better 

 if kept well enriched — for at least seven or eight years. Dafifodils and the 



