50 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



FLOWERS FOR THE GARDEN. 



BY MRS. EVELYN ARNOLD OF GRAND RAPIDS. 



We hold there is nothing in nature the study of which will not elevate 

 one. To become well acquainted with the habits of even a few i)lants 

 affords so much pleasure that we become desirous of broadening our ideas 

 by continuing the study for the amusement and knowledge to be gained. 

 In fact, there are many who can obtain more unalloyed pleasure in this 

 than in any other way, and can attribute their almost perfect health to 

 this outdoor work. 



The best results are obtained only by commencing right and in grow- 

 ing plants suitable to their environment. Plants that thrive only in the 

 sun are too often planted in the shade, and vice versa. As a rule, it 

 requires sunshine to produce bloom and perfume. Flowers will grow for 

 anyone who will give them a fair chance, and they grow for the Hower- 

 lover because he does give them a chance. It would appear incredible 

 to a novice, the amount of plants that can be grown on even one rod of 

 ground, as the result of careful selection, proper watering, and feeding. 

 A few carefully selected, well-grown plants, produce a far more pleasing 

 effect, than mixed, ill-assorted plants ever can. 



During these golden days of summer is an excellent time to take notes 

 of what we wish and what we do not wish to grow, making a list of every- 

 thing we think we would like to grow, and then weeding out the list, as it 

 were, so that it will lit the space one has to occupy. It requires time and 

 much forethought to obtain the much-desired results. After the fruits and 

 vegetables are selected; come the flowers. To be sure, we can not eat them, 

 but we can look at them long after the eating is forgotten. Most of us 

 make the grave mistake of trying to grow too manj^ kinds rather than 

 taking better care of what we already possess. While novelties are a 

 necessity, to improve the race of plants, most of them must be handled 

 carefully, as they somewhat resemble lottery- tickets — more blanks than 

 prizes. 



Make it a study to grow flowers with long stems, that are free-blooming, 

 and those that keep well. Fragrant flowers are always favorites. To pro- 

 duce a succession of bloom the whole summer long, spring bulbs, summer 

 annuals, perennials, and hardy shrubs are necessary; and the day you 

 make your selection is the day you pick your flowers, so to speak. To make 

 the garden gay in spring, crocuses, " little harbingers of spring," bloom 

 first, followed by hyacinths and then by tulips. Spring bulbs increase 

 from year to year and are a good investment, planted in October and 

 transplanted about once in two years. Pansies (and who does not love the 

 darling pansy?) bloom from earliest spring to latest autumn. For rich and 

 varied coloring they are unexcelled. Among the most desirable summer 

 annuals are sweet peas, the new, large-flow'ering kinds. Although there 

 are more than a hundred named varieties, we believe the best to be P>lanche 

 Ferry, pink and white; Katherine Tracy, extra flue, shell pink; Lady Pen- 

 zance, orange pink; Mrs. Sankey and Blanche Burpee, whites; Countess of 



