PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MKIOTING 51 



liadiKtr, lavLiuler; Lottie Eckford, white blue-edged; Cardinal, scarlet; 

 Boreatton, maroon; Aurora, striped, large and fine. 



Tlic best is the cheapest. Tlie seed is now so cheap one can not allord 

 to plant tlie ])oor soils. Cultural directions for growing sweet peas ini- 

 l)rove each year. The latest is, plant them in hard, licli soil, two inches 

 deep, punched in with a hardwood stick made similar to a lead pencil. 

 This gives a light covering for each seed, yet leaves the rest of the ground 

 hard. If planted in loose, rich, light soil, they run too much to vines. 

 Sj)ray the vines ever}' day or two with water, to keep in check the red 

 spider. Kemove all seed pods, to prolong flowering. JJe sure to give all 

 tendrils support. Side shoots retard flowering, ff they do not prevent it 

 entirely. Sweet peas grow better in soil not before used for peas. They 

 are the most in favor at present, of all summer annuals. 



The new Branching aster, with its large blooms and long stems, resem- 

 bling early chrysanthemums, promises to supersede all the old and valued 

 varieties. The colors at present are shell-pink, rose-pink, white, and laven- 

 der, the shell-pink being the hardiest and most sought. 



The selected tall nasturtiums are good climbers, easily grown from seed, 

 and are more fond of water than of rich soil. 



Tons of mignonette seed are sold everj^ year in London. To possess 

 fragrance, mignonette must be grown in poor soil, and it is imj)atient of 

 too much water. It is really a weed. 



Iceland poppies are among the very best new flowers — of recent intro- 

 duction, blooming from seed the first year, wintering without covering, 

 and blooming profusely the second and third years. Picked when they 

 first open, in cool weather, they will last a week, and are, I think, the 

 aristocrac3^ of the poppy family. 



There is a growing taste for perennials, but, as the list of them is large 

 and the space around the home plat limited, care must be used to select 

 only those that will be of permanent value. The newer hardy phloxes are 

 excellent, as also are pansies, lilies, garden pinks, wild ferns, early chrys- 

 anthemums, gaillardia, double perennial sunflowers, irises, violets, etc. 



There is a fashion in flowers, the same as in other things. Those that 

 were all the rage a few years ago are replaced by some of the improved 

 new sorts. The once popular verbena is now seldom seen. 



This year, shrubs, always in favor, are quite the fashion. Some of the 

 very best are altheas, double white, double rose, and single white. They 

 make stately, handsome, permanent shrubs, and are quite hardy. Spirea 

 Von riouttei is being much sought after. Hardy hydrangeas are most fav- 

 ored by some. The sweet syringa is just now in full bloom. Tartarian 

 honeysuckle is fine, blooming usually at Memorial Day. 



Growing a few bulbs, annuals, perennials, and shrubs, about the home 

 plat will bring us all much pleasure and more good health. It is not too 

 early to begin now to improve our list of plants. 



