116 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. 



is a time in the spring when they blossom freely, but not as freely 

 as our old standard sorts, and a few roses would come from time 

 to time during the season, but generally there was but one or two 

 sparsely blooming periods after the first one in the spring. Pick* 

 ing off the buds and cutting back the shoots at the first period 

 of bloom, would increase the quantity of bloom later in the sea- 

 son, and to remove all the buds during spring and summer will 

 generally give a fine crop of rcses in the fall. We may have 

 occasional bloom daring the season, but not constant. 



2 P. M. — Mr. Wood believed that it was rather the time and 

 care required to raise flowers that prevented many from cultivat- 

 ing them, both ladies and men, rather than a want of love for 

 them. The duties of the household and of the farm were press- 

 ing and must be attended to, and there was, with many, little 

 time that could be given to cultivating that which would merely 

 gratify the taste. By some, the same reason is given for not hav- 

 ing a garden. But he did not regard this as a good excuse. He 

 had advised before that the farmer's garden should be arranged 

 so as to cultivate with horse and cultivator ; that everything be 

 set in rows. This would save much of the labor necessary in 

 the construction and care of beds. Flowers might be cultivated 

 in the same manner, certainly some of the larger varieties. 

 This arrangement would not be as artistic and pleasing, but the 

 flowers would be just as beautiful and usually much more 

 abundant. If cultivated in this way, a larger variety might be 

 raised with very little labor. 



Mr. Barter said he was surprised that so little attention was 

 given to the gladiola. He regarded it as a very beautiful flower. 

 It was easy of cultivation, remained in bloom a long time, and 

 presents a greater variety of brilliant colors and varied markings 

 than any other flower in our gardens. Many of our common 

 flowers were self-seeding, and much labor could be saved by cul- 

 tivating these varieties, using the same bed for the same kind 

 from J ear to year, or by transferring the plants as they come up 

 in the spring to other beds. The phlox, petunia, pansy, portu- 

 lacca and manv others are of this kind. Where the beds seed 



