296 



Bulletin 161 



potatoes, and a pigweed, then each of these plants is practical 

 and worth the growing. 



Like or dislike of the farm is often, and probabl}^ generally, 

 formed before the child is old enough to be influenced by the 

 profit-and-loss side of farming. A pleasant and happy home is 

 the very first means of keeping the boy on the farm. One 

 means of making the home attractive is to brighten the place 

 with flowers. 



For tw^o years the Horticultural Department has made studies 

 of those flowers which bloom freely the same year the seeds are 

 sown. The primary use of this investigation is to enable us to 

 give advice as to home-making ; but it is hoped that the statistics 

 of the plants, as given in Part II., will be useful to florists, cata- 

 logue makers, and others who have particular interest in the 

 subject. 



Flowers should be accessories. — The main planting of any 

 place should be of trees and shrubs. (Consult Bulletin 121 



39. — The open-centered yard. 



on " Planting of Shrubbery,'" 160 on " Rural School Grounds," 

 and 90 on "China Asters and Flower Beds.") The flowers 

 are then used as decorations. They may be thrown in freely 

 about the borders of the place, not in beds in the center of 

 the lawn. They show off better when seen against a back- 

 ground : this background may be foliage, a building, a rock, or a 

 fence. 



Where to plant flowers is reall}' more important than what to 

 plant. In front of bushes, in the corner by the steps, against 

 the foundation of the residence or outhouse, along a fence 

 or a walk, — these are places for flowers. A single petunia 

 plant against a background of foliage (as shown on the title- 



