Summer Meeting. 19 



ground gets packed so hard and then we unconsciously let the toes of 

 our shoes bruise the vines. Of course the width of the boards is imma- 

 terial. 



And pansies, I must sav a word about them as they are a joy and 

 beauty forever. I have told how I raise my plants; by the time they 

 are large enough to set out, I have my bed ready for them spaded down 

 deep of course. It must be like most all the rest of the flower garden, 

 rich. I make my bed wide enough to hold five rows one foot apart so I 

 can reach half way across from each side, and on a level with the rest of 

 the ground, with a frame of boards (mine are fence boards) about two or 

 three inches higher than the earth, so sash or any covering can be placed 

 over them when freezing weather comes, and they will bloom most of 

 the time through the winter. 



When ready to set out I give the plants a good soaking and with a 

 table fork — which I find to be one of the most useful tools for cultivating 

 small plants — lift the plant and place in the little hollow prepared for it, 

 fill the dirt in till the cavity is about half full, go over with water, finish 

 filling with earth. In setting eighty plants this spring at one time in this 

 way not one died or wilted. A cut worm got five, but I got the worm. 



The crying need of most flowers seems to be water. Unless we are 

 having frequent showers, I water my pansy beds every evening, i^ot just 

 a little with a sprinkler, but take the nose oft' the can and pour it along 

 the rows each way so it will reach the roots. By keeping the blooms cut 

 and giving plenty of water, from a bed of fifty plants I cut over six hun- 

 dred pansies in one day and could cut from two to four hundred any day 

 for weeks, all nice blooms, none smaller than a twenty-five cent piece. 

 And for those that Ifve beyond the city waterworks as I do, would advise 

 when they start that compost heap in the fall, to lay in a supply of 

 sorghum molasses, for what small boy won't give a pansy bed or sweet pea 

 rows a good soaking for a section of ginger bread for themselves and a 

 bunch of blooms for their Sunday school teacher. 



I have one pansy bed on the north end of the house that requires 

 but very little more water than the rains give it. 



I would like to ask one question, that is, where to set my chrysam- 

 themum that has budded to bloom, this June G ? I never had one in 

 bloom till fall before and don't know whether to put it in partial shade 



