o 



34 Appendix. 



Doubtless the originators of new flowers enjoyed the most exquisite delight 

 in cultivating and watching the progress of them, and imparting them to the 

 world at large. It is pleasing to enjoy the consciousness of skill applied, of 

 diligence and power exercised, and of cherished expectations gratified at length. 



The subject is perhaps of less material utility than some other departments ; 

 it does ont contribute to the substantials of the table but it does to its elegances, 

 and has numerous other and more refining atractions which have always made 

 it a favorite pursuit. 



This department might be called one of the fine arts. It gives scope to 

 the arts of design and works with the most beautiful material : affords pleasure 

 both to the artist and the observer ; it presents beautiful flowers, which are 

 among the most admirable objects of nature, arranged, harmonized and con- 

 trasted in the most favorable circumstances : they add grace to the magnificent 

 country homes, to the more modern villa, and yet more to the humble cottage ; 

 they are the solace and comfort of many tired and overworked shop-keepers. 



The practice shows that there was but a poor conception of it in the first 

 decades of the nineteenth century. Then a separate locality was seldom de- 

 voted to the work, and even when the opportunity was given, the flower beds 

 were generally composed of unshapely figures cut out in turf and were mostly 

 filled with miscellaneous and herbaceous shrubs. 



Floi'ist flowers were not less beautiful than they are now so they received 

 disproportionate attention. Thus simply individual plants received attention 

 and little thought was given to the general effect ; hence flower gardening made 

 little progress. The gardener today is much more of an artist than he was a 

 century ago. 



Under the great progress which has been made in cross pollenization of plants, 

 there have been brought about a great many new varieties, suitable for deco- 

 rative purposes, and have thus aided the gardeners in puting forth their skill 

 and displaying their work to the best possible advantage. 



It is interesting to note the culture and also the diseases which affect 

 highly cultivated plants. In the case of chrysanthemums : The young plants 

 when established and growing freely will take a great deal of water, though 

 there never should be so much that the soil will become green and a scum 

 form. This skum can be obviated by lightly scratching up the surface of the 

 beds once a week ; this will keep them sweet, and the air will be allowed to 

 penetrate. The plant should be sprayed two or three times a day during hot 

 weather. If it has been cloudy for several days the plants will wilt more or 

 less when the sun comes out again. Then it will pay to syringe the plant 

 frequently to keep the foliage from scalding until the plants are again accus- 

 tomed to the bright sunshine. If the stems become crooked it is difficult to get 

 them into shape again, so they should be staked. Do not let the superfluous 

 shoots get too long before pinching them off. Side shoots and suckers should 

 be kept closely removed from the plants. These take the energy and strength 

 from the proper channel. There is a disease called chrysanthemum rust which 

 spreads and may prove very troublesome to growers. The spots are frequently 

 in clusters ; there being several arched ones around a center. They are more 

 abundant on the under side of the leaf. The color is chestnut brown. Perhaps 

 the rust is an old weed and may have come in with imported stock or possibly 

 infests wild plants in our own country. A good cure is to spray with sulphur, 

 in proportion, about one ounce to five gallons of water. 



A few remarks on roses : Greenhouse care. — Before the opening of the 

 season arrives all arrangements should be made for the care of the buds. A 

 thorough going over should be done while it is yet warm ; do not leave it even 

 until September, for then the wood is liable to absorb too much moisture. 

 Particular care should be taken to see that the roofs are tight at the junction 

 of roof and gutter, as this is where the cold air is most liable to pour in and 

 create conditions which are favorable to the germination of mildew spores. 

 The ventilation should also be examined and readjusted if necessary. It re- 



