140 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



This selection is not the best for all clas^^es of plants, as it is diffi- 

 cult to Und any one particular spot exactly suited to all varieties of 

 flowers. I usually let mine straggle at will over the place, using only 

 just enough discipline to prevent one class from encroaching on an- 

 other, to the detriment of either, or both, for I find the vegetable world 

 is like the human in that the strong is inclined to crowd the weak and 

 to usurp their rights. 



I use shrubs, such as the lilac Althea, spirea, hydrangea, wigelia 

 and other varieties, because they bloom early, have graceful foliage, 

 and help to make beautiful a large lawn. 



I plant many roses, always in clusters, groups or hedges, because 

 roses are very neighborly and sociable, in their own class, always get- 

 ting along comfortably together if they are fed well with plenty of rich 

 food and given all the water they require, which is a great deal. I use 

 many of the hybrid perpetuals, because they are more than half hardy 

 and almost as prolific of bloom, and as sweet scented as the tender 

 teas. I always plant tea-roses in groups, for it is just as easy to pro- 

 tect twenty thus planted as one bush standing alone, and they do better 

 for me when planted in clusters than singly. 



I use bulbs freely, both indoors and out, my favorite being hard to 

 define. 



I plant callas, cannas, caladiums, tulips, jonquils, narcissus, free- 

 sias, tritilea-unifiora, lilies, lily of the valley, crocus, ixas, sparixas, 

 snow drops, hyacinths and others, including the Spanish iris, and 

 ornithogalum. 



I always plant a mixed collection of bulbs and bulblets, using the 

 taller ones in regular gradation toward the center of the beds, and 

 tucking in the bulblets in the least conspicuous and most effective 

 places. 



1 find that by mixing the bulbs a succession of bloom may be had 

 and the beds kept beautiful until the middle of May, Crocus and snow 

 drops, tulips, grape hyacinth, sparixias and many others will begin to 

 blossom as soon as the frost permits them to put their bright faces out 

 of the ground. 



The lily family is of aristrocratic lineage and refuse to dwell 

 among plebeian plants however rich and beautiful these may be. 



They will grow in clusters, many sorts of the same family together, 

 and do well, but when you crowd in other things among them they will 

 resent such intrusion to the death, as I have found out to my sorrow 

 after many experiments. 



The lily of the valley requires a place to itself, and when estab- 

 lished in its home must not be often disturbed. Nothing disgusts and 



